Pruning Hybrid Tea and Floribunda Roses

Pruning Hybrid Tea and Floribunda Roses: A Simple Guide

Pruning your roses is an important step to keep them healthy and blooming beautifully. Hybrid tea and floribunda roses both need proper care to thrive. At Henry Street Nursery, we’ve put together this easy guide to help you prune like a pro.

Why Should You Prune?

Roses perform their best on fresh growth. Pruning helps them stay healthy, disease-free, vigorous, and, most importantly, full of flowers. If you’re worried about making a mistake, remember: doing something is better than doing nothing—even if it’s pruning with a hedgecutter! This guide will simplify the process and give you confidence.

When Should You Prune?

The best time to prune hybrid tea and floribunda roses is early spring, typically around mid-February in the UK. Pruning too early may expose new growth to frost damage, while pruning too late can delay flowering. Avoid pruning during freezing temperatures, as frost can harm freshly cut stems.

Steps for Pruning Bush Roses (Hybrid Tea and Floribunda)

For Plants in Good Condition or Under 5 Years Old:

1. Remove Dead or Diseased Branches: Start by cutting away any stems that are dead, damaged, or showing signs of disease. For very old, woody plants, see additional tips below.

2. Open Up the Middle: Take out branches that grow into the center of the plant. This improves air circulation and reduces the risk of disease.

3. Shorten Healthy Stems: Trim remaining stems to 10–15cm (4–6 inches) above a bud. If you want a taller bush, prune less severely, but make sure to hard prune every three years to encourage new, healthy growth from the base. Aim to keep 3–5 strong stems for future growth.

Tools and Helpful Tips

Use clean, sharp pruning shears to make precise cuts.

Ideally, cut at a 45-degree angle just above an outward-facing bud. However, if you’re unsure, simply trim to 4–6 inches—even with a hedgecutter.

After pruning, feed your roses with a rose-specific fertilizer to support strong, healthy growth.

Restoring Very Old and Woody Roses

Over time, roses that are not pruned regularly can lose their vigor. As the stems become woodier, they produce fewer flowers each year. Here are three approaches to reviving old, woody roses:

1. Prune Hard Back to 6 Inches: This is often the preferred option for older roses that don’t hold significant sentimental value. Cut the entire plant down to about 6 inches. While around 60–70% of roses respond well and rejuvenate, success isn’t guaranteed.

2. Gradual Renewal Pruning: If the rose holds sentimental value, prune back the fresh green growth to about 6 inches above the old wood. Repeat this process over several years to encourage the rose to produce new shoots lower down, creating new wood to prune back to in the future.

3. Replace the Rose: If the plant is too far gone, consider removing it and planting a new rose. Be cautious of rose replant disease. Use a box filled with fresh compost to ensure the new rose thrives.

Pruning may take some practice, but it’s worth the effort when you see the results. For expert advice, visit or email us us at Henry Street Nursery. If you have particular roses you would like advise on then please feel free to send over pictures. We’re here to help you grow the garden of your dreams!