Use sharp, clean pruning shears
Prune in late winter or early spring
Remove dead, damaged, or diseased canes
Cut out weak, thin, or crossing stems
Remove canes growing toward the center of the bush
Cut back remaining canes to outward-facing buds
Make cuts at a 45-degree angle above a bud
Remove suckers from below the graft union
Thin the bush to improve air circulation
Reduce height by about one-third to one-half
Remove spent flowers during the growing season
Clean up and discard all pruned material
Disinfect tools after pruning diseased plants