Most People Do This Wrong: Here’s the Right Way to Prune Your Rose Bushes

—

## 🌹 How to Prune Rose Bushes the *Right* Way

### 1. **Clean & Sharpen Your Tools**

Use rubbing alcohol to disinfect blades before you begin — and between bushes. This helps prevent disease spread.

—

### 2. **Remove the 3 D’s First**

Cut these down to the base:

* **Dead wood** (brown and dry inside)
* **Diseased branches** (black spots, mildew, cankers)
* **Damaged canes** (broken or split)

—

### 3. **Open the Center**

Think of your rose bush like a vase — you want **air and sunlight** to reach the center.
Remove:

* **Crossing branches** that rub each other
* Thin, weak canes that won’t support blooms

This helps prevent mold, mildew, and pests.

—

### 4. **Cut Above an Outward-Facing Bud**

When shaping the plant:

* Make a **45° angle cut** about ¼ inch **above a healthy bud** that’s facing **outward**.
* This encourages growth *away* from the center and helps create a balanced shape.

**Wrong:** Cutting above an inward-facing bud
**Right:** Cutting above an outward-facing bud 🌱➡️

—

### 5. **Cut at the Right Height**

* For hybrid teas and shrub roses: trim down to **12–24 inches** from the base.
* For climbing roses: prune lightly and shape — don’t cut down completely.

You’re aiming for a plant with **4–6 strong canes**.

—

## 🌸 Aftercare: Help Your Roses Thrive

* **Clean up fallen leaves and clippings** to prevent fungal diseases.
* **Apply mulch** to retain moisture and prevent weeds.
* **Fertilize** about 2–3 weeks after pruning when new growth appears.
* **Water deeply** at the base — not on the leaves.

—

## 🧠 Final Thoughts

Pruning your roses doesn’t have to be intimidating. Once you understand the *why* behind each cut, it becomes an empowering act of care — and the payoff is huge: **bigger, more fragrant blooms** and a healthier, longer-living plant.

> So yes, most people do this wrong… but now **you won’t**.

—

**Want a printable pruning guide or a visual step-by-step chart? Let me know — I’ll create one for you! 🌹✂️**