Rose bush....

[ummmm]

We have a rose bush in the garden that hasn't been pruned since he bought the house 15 years ago. Loads of lovely flowers on it but it's all over the place....

I'm no gardener so can someone tell me the best way to prune it and when? please

[Clanad]

You don't say if it's a Floribunda or an old fashioned Rambler. The main difference is the Floribunda blooms most of the growing season whereas the Rambler blooms only once and then on "old wood" (last years growth.

If it blooms only once, you can prune it right after the last blooms fade. It can be pruned heavily and won't hurt it. Be sure to prune out a lot of the center to give it better air circulation and prune away any old, derad or broken stems (be sure you have some sturdy leather gloves and a sharp by-pass pruning tool).

If it's a Floribunda, then don't prune it until early next spring when it's still dormant. Again, prune the center for air and cut away dead wood. You can decide on the shape you'd like...

Best of luck!

(There are several other varieties, but yours sound suscpiciously like a Rambler...)

[ummmm]

Thank you. I think it might be a rambler. If I prune it right back will it still flower next year?

[Clanad]

As our Norwegian neighbors say...Yah, you betcha! In fact the overall health of the bush will improve...

Best of luck!

[ummmm]

Thank you very much :-)

[LoftyLottie]

ummmm, I pruned all our roses hard back last year, ramblers, climber, floribundas, etc. They have never looked better although the ramblers are flowering later than usual. It's very difficult to kill a rose!!

[ummmm]

It currently has loads of flowers but looks very sparse due to the fact that he's never pruned it since he got the house....bloody men :-) It should look really nice in the end.