How to Prune a Mini Rose Bush

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

Mini rose bushes don’t need quite as much care as their larger counterparts, but they still need a little TLC every now and then. We’ve answered some of your questions about pruning mini rose bushes so you can have beautiful blooming flowers all season long. Just grab your gardening gloves and your pruners to get started!

When should mini roses be pruned?

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Trim your mini rose bush in the spring. If your mini rose bush is growing a little too tall or wide for your liking, you don’t have to wait until winter to prune it. Wait until about half the buds are swollen before you prune.^{[1]
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- A prune just before springtime can actually encourage growth and blooms, so you might get larger flowers.
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Prune your mini rose bush for maintenance in the winter. Wait until the threat of frost is over. If you trim your roses too early, you could cause them to die back prematurely. Depending on where you live, this could be in mid-February or late March.^{[2]
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- Mini roses don’t need any pruning before winter comes; in fact, cutting them down before the cold weather comes could cause them to die.

How do you trim a mini rose bush in the spring?

Shape your rose bush by cutting branches back to the outermost bud. If you’re looking to make your mini rose a little smaller or shrubbier, grab your pruners and hold them at a 45-degree angle to the bush. Cut each branch about ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) above the outermost bud until all the branches are even.^{[3]
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- You’ll probably trim off about 1/3 of your rose bush in total.
- Shaping your rose bush will help prevent “leggy” roses, or branches that grow tall and spindly.
- Since mini rose bushes are so small, you don’t need to cut them to the ground like typical rose bushes. Try to keep about 2/3 of the plant intact for the best growth and bloom season.^{[4]
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How do you prune a mini rose bush in the winter?

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Remove any dead or crossing branches. If you see any branches that look weak, brittle, or gray, cut them out near the base of your rose bush. If any of the branches are crossing each other, cut back the weaker one to prevent friction.^{[5]
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- Branches rubbing together can create friction and lead to weak or dead roses.
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Cut back older growth to the roots. If you notice any branches that look old or weak, use your pruners to trim them back as close to the roots as you can. This will focus the plant’s energy on creating fresh, new buds instead of keeping the old ones alive.^{[6]
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Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants
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How do you prepare a mini rose bush for winter?

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Bury the pot in the ground to keep your roses outside. If your roses are in a container, use a spade to dig a hole 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm) into the ground. Place your pot in the hole, then bury it with soil to cover the roots and keep them warm.^{[7]
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- If the roots of your mini roses get too cold during the winter, they could die.
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Bring your roses inside during the winter to keep them warm. Place your container in a south or west-facing window so they still get plenty of sun.^{[8]
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Go to source} Try to keep the temperature inside around 70 °F (21 °C) to keep your roses happy.^{[9]
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- You can treat your rose bush like a houseplant if you take it inside.
- Put your rose bush back outside once the threat of frost has passed.

Do you deadhead mini rose bushes?

Yes, deadhead your rose bush in the summer. Wait until all your roses have bloomed, then put on a pair of gardening gloves. Use 2 fingers to pinch off the faded blooms and put them into your compost.^{[10]
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Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants
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- If any blooms give you trouble, use pruners to lop them off instead.
- The faded blooms may also fall off on their own, in which case there’s no need to deadhead.
- Deadheading your roses will help focus their energy on new growth instead of old, dead blooms.

What’s the best way to take care of a mini rose bush?

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Plant your mini roses in a well-draining pot or container. Mini roses are small plants, so they do best in containers. Fill your pot or container with well-draining, loamy potting soil, then put the containers outside.^{[11]
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- You can place your mini roses near other plants as long as they don’t get shaded out. Most mini roses only grow to be between 6 and 24 inches (15 and 61 cm) tall, so they can easily get lost behind tall grasses and shrubs.
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Put them in a spot that gets 8 hours of sunlight per day. Mini rose bushes thrive when they’re soaking up the sun. Put their pot or planter in a spot with plenty of light.^{[12]
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- If you want to keep your mini roses inside, put them in a south or west-facing window.
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Water your roses every day. Most roses need about 1 in (2.5 cm) of water per week. Keep your hose or watering can close to the ground to avoid getting the leaves or flowers wet.^{[13]
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- If you live in a rainy climate, you may not have to water your roses as often.
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Spray your roses with insecticide if you notice pests. If your flowers or leaves start getting holes in them, you may be dealing with insects. You can spray your roses with insecticide to thwart any critters eating your plants.^{[14]
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- If you aren’t a fan of chemical insecticides, use a peppermint essential oil spray instead. Mix a spray bottle full of hot water with 10 drops of peppermint essential oil, then spray it liberally over your roses for a natural pest repellent.