- 1). Put on a pair of work gloves.
- 2). Use pruning shears to cut back all stems or "canes" to around the same length. Cutting them back to about 12 inches will keep the shrubs from getting too large and allow for clean-looking growth.
- 3). Cut off any small stem offshoots from thicker healthy canes.
- 4). Use the pruning shears to cut off any dead plant material as low to the ground or close to healthy canes as possible.
- 5). Grasp the end of a cane and search for the bud closest to the top of the cane. Canes should be producing small red buds by late winter to spring.
- 6). Cut the cane off just above the bud.
- 7). Repeat steps 5 and 6 for each cane of the shrub rose.
- 8). Place all the cuttings in a leaf bag.
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