[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by Irie Brown

Pruning Roses - University of Florida's Gardening in a Minute

IFAS/UF site says do it in Jan or Feb.

What would you do after that to care for roses?

Keep in mind that a rose bush should always grow in the shape of a cup with no growth on the inside. Remove (by hand) inside growth when you see it start to come out. All new growth should be on the outside or side of the main stems and only when they will not cross or touch other growth.

Fertilize about once a month with a fertilizer designed for roses. When you prune yearly or semi-annually, don't cut back more than 20-30% of the total growth. In Florida, you may want to prune twice a year, if necessary. When cutting roses, cut as far down as the first set of 5 leaves which are growing outwardly, meaning they should be on the outer side of the stem. The cut should be on the inside at a downward (slanted) angle. This is done to prevent disease.

PM me if you need help or don't understand what I mean. I know it can be confusing.