Wear thick gloves and long sleeves
Use clean, sharp pruning shears or loppers
Remove dead, damaged, or diseased canes first
Cut crossing or rubbing branches
Make cuts at a 45-degree angle just above an outward-facing bud
Remove weak, thin, or spindly growth
Thin the center of the bush to improve airflow
Cut back tall canes to the desired height
Remove suckers growing from below the graft union
Prune after the main blooming period or in late winter for most varieties
Clean and disinfect tools after use
Dispose of clippings properly