Rosa Rugosa hedge

I have a Rugosa hedge about ten years old that has become tall and a bit leggy and throwing a lot of suckers, there is also a lot of dead wood. Is there any way I can recover the hedge so I have growth from top to bottom rather than just the top? I hold my hands up and admit neglect.
thanks in advance Eric

 

Hi Eric

thick gloves is a must and long handled lopers before you even start

If me I would take out all the dead wood and 50% of the OLD growth and leave all the new growth from last year if you can this type of rose grows denser by suckering so its doing what it should if growing where you dont want it just cut it down and dig out if growing outwards where you dont want it , do the same again either early Winter this year or early spring next year , give it a good feed with rose fertilizer.

You still have time to sort out as all this cold weather has held them all back so at least you will be able to see what you are doing .
its great for the birds and bees a well

Spruce