The Art of Rose Pruning: 7 Steps for Healthy Blooms 1 Choose the right time Prune in late winter or early spring after the last frost, when buds begin to swell. 2 Prepare your tools 理 Use sharp bypass pruners, long-handled loppers, gardening gloves, and disinfectant for safe and clean cuts. 3 Remove dead or diseased wood Cut away brown, dry, or damaged branches. Keep only green, healthy wood by trimming back to live tissue. 4 Cut above outward-facing buds Make each cut about a quarter inch above an outward-facing bud at a 45-degree angle to direct growth outward and reduce water retention. 5 Thin crowded branches Remove branches that cross or rub to improve airflow and light, shaping the plant in an open, vase-like form. 6 Shape the plant Aim for balance and symmetry by removing weak or spindly growth, focusing energy on strong branches. 7 Feed and mulch Apply balanced fertilizer after pruning and cover the soil with mulch to retain moisture, control weeds, and stabilize temperature. Maintain roses with regular pruning, adapt techniques to the rose type, and disinfect tools between cuts for long-lasting vibrant blooms.