Roses

[Dee Sa]

when is best to prune the roses and how much should I take off ? many tks

[Thunderbird+]

Hi Dee sa, I'll assume that you have Hybrid Teas that are ready growing and established.
The ultimate aim is to encourage the production of strong basal growths to create an open frame-work of evenly spaced shoots. Remember that hybrid teas flower on currant years growth and should benifit from fairly hard pruning.

Now's the time to tip back any soft unripe shoots and dead-head flowers that have finished.
Mid Feb to mid-or late Mar. Cut out any dead or diseased wood and weak stems, cut out crossing stems and ones growing into the centre. Once you have done that, you can now prune back the stronger stems to 4-6 eyes/buds or 9 eyes on thiner stems and remaining laterals to 2-4eyes or about 6"lengths,
always prune to an outward facing bud, cutting just above it and slightly slanting back.
They should flower well if you feed with blood, fish and bone every six weeks. keep well watered in dry weather, I like to mulch with leaf mould which will also help to retain moisture. Good luck Tbird+

[Dee Sa]

Thunderbird+
many tks for the good advice, have printed it off for future refence, the roses wre planted yonks ago by my mother and are well established but neglected.
Dee