Dead heading - Remove the flowers as they die, this will not only to keep the plant looking good, but also to encourage speedy repeat flowering. With a variety that produces many flowers in a cluster, each bloom can easily be snapped off and, when the last bloom has died, cut the stem back to the first full sized leaf. Alternatively, 12" (30cm) or more of the stem can be removed if you want to restrict the size of the plant during the growing season. This is particularly important in hot climates. If the variety normally produces attractive hips then the flowers should not be removed. Pruning -Firstly remove any dead, diseased or very weak growth from the plant. Remove stems that have become very old and woody and that are not producing vigorous new stems.

Hybrid tea roses - these are the large flowering varieties. Late February or early March is the time usually set aside for pruning roses. Prune these roses back to three to five of the strongest (young) canes. Then shorten the canes in this manner. Any cane that is the size (diameter) of pencil, prune back to 4 to 8 inch (10-20cm) from the ground; canes the size of your little finger prune back to 8 to 12 inch (20-30cm) from the ground; and canes the size of your forefinger should be pruned back to 12 to 18 inch (30-45cm) from the ground. Any of the larger canes, thumb sized or larger, prune them back to two feet or less, if possible.

Floribunda roses - these are the bushy small flowering type roses. Simply head the bushes back to about 15 to 18 inch (37.5-45cm) from the ground. Thin out a few of the canes for good air circulation and better light exposure.

Climbing roses - the previous year's flowering shoots should be reduced to 3 or 4 buds or about 6" (15cms). Train them against a wall, fence or on a trellis. Climbing rose canes have a tendency to grow upward, pull them down and train them outward so as to openup and space the canes. This procedure should result in a lot more flowers and a much better looking plant. Ramblers should be left to ramble at will unless they need to be constrained, in which case treat them as climbers.

Shrub roses - Repeat flowering bush / shrub roses should be cut down by between 1/3 and 2/3. Non- repeating shrubs need little if any pruning.