The stems of rambling roses are far more flexible than climbing roses, producing a single display of flowers on last year's growth. Although they do not require a great deal of pruning, they must be carefully trained to avoid becoming an unmanageable mass of tangled stems. As they only flower once, pruning should be carried out in late summer or autumn once the display has finished.

Initial Pruning

During their first two years of growth, pruning should be restricted to removing dead, diseased or damaged wood. Sideshoots may also be lightly cut back by about 8 cm (3 in) to just above a vigorous shoot.

Maintenance Pruning

After the rambler is established, it is usually easier to carry out pruning by removing the support ties and gently easing the shoots down onto the ground. Remove one-third to one-half of the oldest main stems, cutting them back to within 5-8 cm (2-3 in) of ground level. This will encourage a number of new vigorous shoots to develop at the base. Cut back sideshoots to leave 2-4 healthy buds. Re-position the stems along the support, making sure that they run as horizontal as possible; this will increase the production of flowers.