Pruning time
July is the main pruning time for bush and shrub roses, but wait until August in coldest climates. Ask about pruning demonstrations at your garden centre, botanic gardens or rose society (nzroses.org.nz).
Using a clean, sharp pair of secateurs, remove dead or decaying wood and wood that is less than pencil thickness - a minimum healthy size for most varieties.
Remove the oldest branches and those crossing over each other or growing towards the centre of the bush.
Shorten the remaining branches, cutting 5mm above an outward facing bud. This is where next season’s growth will emerge.
Make cuts on an angle slanting away from a bud so that water flows away from the bud.
As a guide, for modern bush roses aim for three to five thick, wellspaced branches each with three to five buds.
For old-fashioned rambling roses that flower only once a year in spring, leave pruning until immediately after flowering, before they put on the growth that will produce next years flowers.