Zuzu, you never remove a cane if it isn't dead? Even with Austins? Maybe I am misunderstanding.
I recently cut back and removed a lot of growth from Wildeve. I cut the canes that were crossing thru the bush, ones blocking the irises from coming up in the spring, and one that was rubbing another cane. I had been afraid to prune as a new rose grower, but this rose is so vigorous and winter hardy that I knew it would survive any mistakes. It is own root and sends up lots of canes. I have to keep it a bit smaller than it would like to be because it is near a walkway and other plants. I never dreamed that roses could grow so vigorously here.
Before this year, I only cut back any dead growth in the early spring, cut back a few canes to shape and deadheaded.
