Question

How do I prune these rose bush shrubs? And how often?

Answer

Easy Elegance roses have a smaller maturing size and require very little pruning. With their first year, it will probably be limited to deadheading, snipping off the spent flowers. To deadhead, trim off the stem of the flower you are removing at the flower cluster and be careful not to remove the buds that are coming on. Once that whole cluster of flowers is finished flowering, trim the stem off just above the next set of leaves. I find that floral scissors are helpful with deadheading roses. Each year in the spring, once the roses have started leafing out, you may see some winter kill (light brown canes and branches). Those branches can be trimmed with pruners close to the base of the rose. To learn more about pruning roses, check out the Easy Elegance rose planting and care guide.