That botany club field trip in 2019 changed how I prune my roses

I was with the local botany club out at the old Johnson estate back in 2019. The head gardener there showed us how she cuts her roses back to an outward-facing bud every time, no exceptions. Before that I was just hacking away however it felt right. Has anyone else picked up a proper technique from a random field trip that stuck with you?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenkins.alice1d ago

Ugh, I totally disagree. I've been pruning roses for fifteen years and I swear by just cutting wherever feels right in the moment. That whole "always face outward" thing made my bushes look all stiff and unnatural, like they were trying to salute someone.

nelson.gavin1d ago

And here's the thing nobody talks about - the direction you cut actually changes how the plant heals more than it affects the shape, especially in humid climates where inward-facing cuts can trap moisture and rot the cane from the inside out. I learned that the hard way after losing three bushes to dieback, then a master gardener buddy showed me how the outward-facing cuts let water run right off instead of pooling in the wound. You can definitely trim wild if you want a bushier look, just make sure the cut surface is angled away from the center so the plant stays healthy while it fills in naturally.