Neglected Old Rose
How To Prune Old Roses

by Sandra
(Crawford, GA)

QUESTION: I moved into an old Victorian house with a very neglected garden.

There's an old climbing rose (Seven Sisters rose, I think)that has spread to an 8w x12d x15h foot mess.

It probably hasn't been pruned in 15 to 20 years.

I don't have a clue how to tackle pruning it.

If you could point me to some information on how and when to bring it back to a manageable size, I'd really appreciate it.

ANSWER: Hi Sandra! Sorry it took so long to get back to you.

Old roses do have special pruning requirements, and I have a page with detailed pruning istructions for pruning old roses

Since your old roses haven't been pruned for some time, they will really appriciate a proper pruning job.

The first thing you need to determine is which roses are once-blooming only, and which are repeat-blooming roses.

Once-blooming roses should ONLY be pruned in summer AFTER flowering, because they bloom on old wood, or last years growth,

So if you prune off last years growth in late winter or early spring, you will not have any rose blooms on the once-blooming rose bushes.

Be sure you read all my old roses pruning instructions so you know how to to it right.
Best Regards,
Annelie