RENOVATE OLD ROSE BUSHES
July 2007  There are two very good reasons why it is often worthwhile pruning to rejuvenate an old rose. More often than not you will be successful. They are tough plants and most of them will respond to hard pruning. It is worth remembering that you won’t be able to replace the rose with another new cultivar unless you change the soil the old one was growing in.
With very old bush and shrub roses the best method is to risk all and prune the plant hard. Cut the main branches back to within 15-20 cm of the ground. Remove any dead stumps. Water, feed and mulch and, trust me, it will push out new growths.
There is no sense in hunting for a suitable bud to prune to. With old stems they won’t be visible but the pruning will kick start any dormant buds.
Climbers and rambler roses will, if not pruned every year, quickly become an untidy mess. Ramblers are normally pruned in summer after flowering but for renovating they may be pruned at the same time as the climbers in the dormant season.
 When climbers are badly overgrown with bare lower branches and all the flowers above your head then the best policy is to cut 3-4 of the oldest shoots back to 30 cm from the base of the plant. Cut the long stems up and remove in suitable sized pieces. Any laterals on the remaining stems should be shortened by two thirds. Cut to a bud pointing sideways.
Alternatively, shorten half the stems by two thirds pruning the remaining shoots to the same height the following spring.
Ramblers may be renovated by pruning out all the old stems at the base only retaining any new shoots. With plants where there are no new growths and the plant is a tangled mass of branches then cut, in late summer, all the growths to within 20-30 cm of the ground and wait for new shoots to form.
Examine rejuvenated plants for unwanted suckers removing them by pulling them off the stem or root when they are small.
After a severe pruning, water, feed and mulch the plant to give it the best chance for a full recovery.
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