- 1). Fill the spray bottle with the antibacterial solution or alcohol. This will be used to spray the pruners initially and between plants. Fungus and other diseases can be contagious and are special worries when they come in contact with fresh cut wounds.
- 2). Put on the gloves.
- 3). Sharpen the pruners if they aren't already sharp. Drag the blade a few times along the sharpener at a 45-degree angle You will want to keep them sharp throughout the pruning process so you get clean cuts that will heal over quickly. Spray the pruners with the disinfecting spray.
- 4). Cut at an angle when pruning roses. Your cut should be more than 1/4 inch above an exterior bud node and slanted to tip moisture away from the bud. Start on the exterior of the plant and take out the smallest dead wood. If you are unsure whether a cane is dead, scratch it lightly with the pruner to see if it is green underneath. If it is green, it is still alive.
- 5). Prune out the center dead canes and oldest canes. The earlier pruning should have opened up the bush so you can easily access the center. You may need to use the saw on the oldest thick canes. Spray it with the antibacterial spray. The idea is to make a vase shape out of the bush, with young canes forming the sides of the vase and the center clear of branches.