When and how to carry out pruning of a standard or weeping rose?

What is a standard rose and what is a weeping rose?

Standard rose

It is a rose grafted onto a rootstock at a variable height, between 70–80 cm and 1.30 m. The grafted choice favours dwarf roses that form a globe of roses at the top of a stem. Several grafts can be performed on the same standard rose to obtain a well-rounded head.

Weeping standard rose

It is also a grafted rose, except the graft point is located between 1.40 and 2 m above soil. This time the rose chosen for grafting is a climbing rose, liana or possibly groundcover. The graft is made higher so branches can cascade gracefully.

Both are horticultural creations and the rootstock used is often dog rose (Rosa canina). With graft point being high, I recommend installing protection against severe winter frosts, such as winter fleece. Also provide a stake as the branches are quite heavy and offer significant windage.

To find out more :

• Protecting standard and weeping roses in winter
• How to stake a standard or weeping rose?

Standard and weeping roses at Parc de Bagatelle (Photo C. Noël)

When to prune a standard rose?

Pruning of standard roses or weeping perpetual roses is carried out in late winter, around March, when you notice new growth. These roses are most vulnerable to late frosts, so I recommend pruning them last!

For more information on pruning periods for roses, consult our advice sheet: When to prune roses?

How to prune a standard rose and a weeping rose?

Pruning standard roses

It follows the same principles as bush roses. Simply prune fairly short and balance the shape. For a perpetual standard rose, proceed as follows :

• remove suckers that have grown on the trunk;
• also remove dead wood and twigs, as well as branches growing towards the heart of the rose to allow air and light to pass through and to prevent fungal diseases;
• leave 3 or 4 eyes and make a slanting cut, 0.5 cm above an outward-facing eye.

Pruning weeping roses

In this case, it is more of a refresh pruning. To do this :

• remove suckers as well;
• also remove dead wood, twigs and branches growing towards the inside of the rose;
• the actual pruning consists of lightly trimming branches that have borne hips (if you left any) and removing old branches to rejuvenate the plant every three years or so.

For more information, also consult our advice sheets : Pruning roses and When and how to prune bush roses and bushes.