Help with pruning advice!!

We inherited this rose when we moved in a couple of years ago. It stands about 6ft high at the moment and produces lots of fragrant yellow flowers at the top of the bush. The stem is bare. What I don't know is whether it is actually one of those "tree" size roses or is a normal bush sized specimen that has just been left to grow to this height? So, should I cut it down to about 1 or 2 ft off the ground in the spring before it starts again for the season or is that too much of a chop??

Any pruning advice greatly appreciated.

 

Hi

Don't want to sound rude but you could start with clearing all that grass from around the base of the plant to give it a opportunity to grow as grass will starve it of food and water , they do bounce back quickly given some TLC , rose food and a good water , I wouldn't overdo the pruning , to hard prune mmm I wouldn't like to say but rose experts on here will help I am sure of that

Spruce

 

Yes, you are right - I will clear the base (again!) However, I still need to know what type of rose bush it might be and how much to prune it next Feb/March?

 

The thickness of the stem suggests to me it's a standard rose that's got out of hand. Pruning of roses is usually done in February, so you are right there. But I think I'd be inclined to tidy it up now. I would remove the lower branch on the right of the rose completely and then trim the top right of the rose down to the level of the growth on the left side. It can then be tidied up in February. Standard roses would also be better supported by a stake to keep them upright. I'd knock one in to just below the 'crown' of the rose, where the branches meet the main stem.
Don't forget to remove the dead flower heads, that will encourage it to produce more flowers.

At the top of the 'Rose' forum there is a thread which will tell you how to prune roses correctly.

 

So, no votes for cutting it right back to a couple of feet off the ground??

 

after what Sheal said it does look like a half standard so that means the top part is a rose cultivar and the piece coming out from the side is also the root stock so cutting out will be the best thing to do as it will eventually weaken the top growth (named variety) so the whole stem will be the root stock so if you do cut hard back you will be left with just the wild rose root stock , re put in a new/stake cane as well to straighten it up

 

If you cut it back to a couple of feet from the ground you will probably find that will be the end of your rose, it isn't a bush rose, it's supposed to have top growth only, like a tree. Take a look at the images below.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sta...ADg&sqi=2&ved=0CF8QsAQ&biw=1600&bih=752&dpr=1