Before we get into this great mystical secret, however, let s back up and review the basic pruning process. We prune to complement the growth habit of that particular variety, to help it do want it wants. So perhaps we should lighten up a bit and realize that pruning is not brain surgery .plant surgery, yes, but that s not quite the same. Excessively light pruning will result in smaller blooms, possibly of less quality, on a plant that will tend to sprawl and flop. If we prune large roses too low, we risk having no blooms that year as the plant will expend all its energy growing canes.
All roses have their own individual characteristics of bush and bloom.
Because of its genetic makeup, every variety wants to grow to a certain height or size before it produces flowers, and will generally bloom poorly, or not at all, if not allowed to attain that size. First of all, by doing a little research before buying any potentially large rose, finding out something about its dimensions and habit so we will know what to expect and can allow adequate garden space for that variety. Finally, if we re still facing our first real pruning with trepidation, we can always experiment a little. After a year or so of this, you should be able to discard your notes and prune confidently, having become familiar with the plant and its characteristics. Let s define our terms here.