Rugosa prune

Hi there,

I'm a bit confused about what to do with Rosa rugosa. Rather, should it look shrubby or climbing. It's been planted East facing, so don't know if it's just trying to reach sun. Should I try to train it on the fence, or cut back to be more shrubby, after flowering? I know it's classed as a Shrub rose, just not sure what to do, as it's not like the usual woody rose stems I'm used to. Any advice welcome.

 

Rugosa's are shrub roses but grow tall, 6 - 8ft. To help them fill out they are best pruned but I would leave it now until it's in it's dormant period over winter and early spring as with all roses. I suggest pruning it to what is the middle cross bar on the fence and take out any dying or crossing stems. Rugosa's are a species rose so will eventually put up new shoots not only at the base but from their roots, not necessarily close to the mother plant.

 

Mine here are wild now and glorious. I just let them rip. Years ago the council ripped out the border on the lane and a kind neighbour planted white and pink/ red rugosa and they have never been touched and are thick and bushy with a fine crop of rose hips which I harvest for syrup.

 

Just been admiring some of mine.

 

Thank you @Sheal! I read that pruning after flowering was best for these? But is that only if they're already in decent shape then?

 

Thanks @Islander77 lovely

 

It doesn't make any difference what condition the rose is in unless of course it's diseased. If you prune Rugosa's after flowering, or dead head the flowers they won't produce hips which birds love to eat when ripe. I have Rugosa's and prune them the same time as my other roses in late winter or early spring.

By all means prune yours now if you wish but don't expect to see many if any flowers again during this growing season.

 

Thank you for this wisdom. Which allows the bush to fulfil its functions! There is a high thick hedge of rugosa along the lane by this dwelling; it has never been tended except maybe a chopping where it obstructs the lane, and is now thick with hips. Which as you say are there for the birds and for us.