When and how far back does anypone prune this bush?
Just jumping in here.Ours is too big and grabbs me everytime I pass.

I have always heard that Rugosas don't like being pruned so I leave mine alone - but I tend to leave my roses alone a lot...

I've just removed the dead wood, but the ones in my yard don't do so well. They really don't like my alkaline soil.

I've just heard that they don't like any kind of spraying. Somebody in our local rose society sprayed theirs with Miracle Grow and it died back.

The other website says prune hard in spring to 16 inches.
I'm fine with that.

THat's right on the no spraying. No feeding, no spraying, just leave them alone. I also think any pruning should be done very very early in the spring. Like about the time a hungry bear would be browsing.