What tools are needed to prune rose bushes?

The tools required to prune a rose bush include hand pruners, loppers, safety glasses and heavy, elbow-length gloves. Pruners should be sharp and able to cut canes up to 1/2 inch in diameter. A solution of bleach and water is also needed to clean tools after use.

It's best to prune rose bushes in the early spring and remove dead and damaged canes first. Canes that rub against each other should be cut at a 45-degree angle 1/4 inch above a healthy, outward-facing bud. To keep water away from the bud, the high part of the cut and the bud should be on the same side of the cane.