How do you prune rose bushes that are getting too big.?

I grow a variety called Red Carper rose and one called Knockout. They are 4 - 5 feet tall, 5 - 6 feet wide, and not looking as well as when they were younger. Is it okay to cut them way back this fall or next spring? Or should I yank them out and replace with small plants?

How do you prune rose bushes that are getting too big.?
Well... you know how large these roses want to become, they're going to try to achieve that size. So, are you willing to keep cutting them back to control the size? are you intimidated by the thorns? Many roses look 'tired' this time of year, as the season's storm, insect and disease damage accumulates on the plant. If you had to apply fertilizer and/or pest controls on the plant almost weekly, does that impact your decision?





If you're willing to work on the plants, they are certainly above average selections, and you will be rewarded with beautiful flowers through out the season. If, however some of those things seem like "too much work", I'd take the roses out and choose something with less maintenance. 'Red Carpet' and ' Knockout' are both considered "low maintenance" (when it comes to roses) but neither of them are No Maintenance.





You can safely cut them back very hard in the spring, while the plants are dormant. Even to 1 foot.





In the mean time, I'd bring some foliage to the local independent garden center, so they can help you look for diseases or insect damage. They can tell you what you'll need to spray on the plants to protect them.





I hope that this helps...


Good luck
Reply:Prune back in the late fall,(they suggest January but who wants to be pruning roses in January?) you can be sever to most rose plants and they will come back in the spring much stronger.


Check for new growth at the bottom and cut that back it might be sapping the strength from the main plant.
Reply:This site says you can "trim to shape" Carpet roses anytime.


In early spring or late winter, "prune" to cut the canes down to ten inches.


http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...





Another says; Prune half way back in very early spring. (Late February or early March).


http://www.tlcgarden.com/LTG04-14-07.htm





The Knockout rose can be trimed/pruned anytime.


"It never needs deadheading, and blooms on old as well as new wood, so pruning is entirely your choice."


http://www.waysideknockoutroses.com/





Good luck! Hope this helps.
Reply:the kinds of roses that you have vary somewhat. Your red carper you need to wait until February to prune. the knockouts can have some minor trimming as soon as it cools down some. i would say late September or October. one thing that you can do to help them look better is to trim the old blooms off. this will increase growth and help to produce more blooms.





when you do prune in February, cut them back hard, as much as in half. this will encourage lateral growth instead of vertical growth. then just wait for spring and they will take off again.





hope this helps
Reply:From:


http://www.olyrose.org/pruning.htm#howpr...





"Note: If there are as many ways to grow roses as there are rosarians, there are as many theories on pruning as there are pruners. This information is offered as a general guideline for the South Puget Sound area.








Why you should prune


The main purposes of pruning are:





To improve the appearance of the bush,


To stimulate growth,


Control over-wintering bugs and diseases, and


To control the quality and quantity of blooms.


Tall, thin canes produce more but smaller blooms. Fewer, thicker canes result in fewer but larger and better quality blooms. Light pruning is not recommended for most hybrid teas because tall, spindly bushes result. Moderate pruning means removal of 1/2 - 2/3 of the existing bush, while hard pruning leaves only 3-4 canes 8 to 12 inches long.





Bushes are always improved and never killed by pruning. Unpruned roses bloom on small cane tips, go to seed, and become dormant. Poor or "incorrect" pruning is better than no pruning at all. The general rule is to prune strong-growing bushes moderately and weak growers severely.





When to prune








Fall pruning is normally done around Thanksgiving. Bushes should be cut back to about half their original height and leaves should be removed. This will prevent winter winds from whipping the bushes and loosening the root systems. Removing the leaves is done for hygienic reasons because insect eggs and fungal spores overwinter on leaves. It is a good practice to mound soil or mulch 6 to 8 inches deep around the plant to protect it from winter damage.





Spring pruning is usually done during the second week of March around south Puget Sound -- a week or so later at higher elevations. First remove the mounding material to expose the lower plant and canes. Then follow directions below on "How to prune."





How to prune





Take out all dead wood.


Take out all crossed or twiggy growth.


Keep the center open for good air circulation.


Cut all canes to white or pale green pith. Any brown coloration in the pith indicates a dead or dying cane, in which case the cane should be pruned to a lower bud eye, clear to the crown if necessary, in order to find live pith.


Cut approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch above a bud, on a downward slant, away from the bud. Cut to an outside bud to make the plants grow wider. Cut to an inside bud for more upright growth on a plant that has a tendency to sprawl.


Use sharp tools for cutting. Use a keyhole saw or lopper to cut thick, woody, old canes.


Cut canes at uneven heights for a longer blooming period and better appearance.


Select from 3 to 6 strong basal shoots from previous year's growth. Remove all other growth. Then prune those canes left.


Accomplish as many chores as possible just after pruning before the bushes have sprouted. Remove mulch from the bud union, weed, and clean up the rose garden. This prevents breaking off the new shoots when doing these things later."