How far back should I trim my rosebushes?

Fran Whipple
by Fran Whipple
Long stem rose bush

  5 answers
  • Pat Riew Pat Riew on Oct 28, 2017

    you can be quite severe with roses, I cut mine back to 20 inches and try to open the center by removing any stems heading there. Keep several strong stems and cut on an angle just above an outward facing bud. Keep an eye as you cut and don't leave more than 1/2 inch or that part dies off. Clean up all the leaves and trimmings and bag them, they have mold spores.

  • Kat22249938 Kat22249938 on Oct 28, 2017

    12-15 inches

  • Roxaneg Roxaneg on Oct 28, 2017

    Roses should not be trimmed at this time of the year-- except to protect by removing crossed canes, suckers or broken/diseased stems, or climbing roses. Trimming them now can lead to winterkill. Trim them in the late winter/early spring.


    For climbing roses or rose bushes that are 5-6' tall, remove any crossed canes, remove any broken or diseased stems. Broken stems can be trimmed 6" into the healthy stems.

  • Holly Kinchlea-Brown Holly Kinchlea-Brown on Oct 28, 2017

    i would trim any dead wood completely off and trim any other wood down to the crown to promote new stems