How to Prune Carpet Roses

Carpet roses, also known as groundcover roses, feature vigorous canes that grow nearly prostrate and only have slight upward growth or mounding. Some cultivars of carpet rose have an everblooming habit, while others bloom only in spring. Like other types of roses, carpet roses require pruning to maintain a tidy form. However, carpet rose pruning does not need to be as exact and methodical as the pruning of other types of roses.

Pruning shears
Hedge trimmer, if desired

Instructions

- 1
  Shear off or cut back the carpet rose in late fall after growth has stopped or in early spring before growth resumes. Simply cut the rose back so that it is about a foot tall or cut off the top two-thirds of the plant using a hedge trimmer.
- 2
  Trim off any especially vigorous or wild-looking stems as they appear throughout the growing season. Cut the vigorous shoot back to a main stem.
- 3
  Trim the entire plant lightly to maintain a tidy form throughout the growing season, if desired.
- 4
  Remove any dead, diseased or damaged stems as they appear.
- 5
  Avoid deadheading, or removing spent flowers, from the carpet roses unless desired. These cultivars do not generally require deadheading.

How to Grow Miniature Roses Inside

How to Amend Soil for Roses

Growing Roses