Hi Tirzahanna- The first thing to do with your new, dormant rose bush.

Sep 17, Always prune in early spring when new shoots are beginning to form on the canes. Prune to about a third of the desired final size.

Knock Out roses typically triple in size after pruning Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins. Additionally, after cutting out dead or diseased material from your rose, sterilize your pruning tool again before using it on a healthy cane.

Crushing can create an entry point for insects and diseases.

Always cut stems at a 45 degree angle just above (at least ¼ inch) an outward-facing bud. This will encourage the plant to grow outward, rather than in on itself. Pruning Roses.