Everything You Need to Prune Roses

Let's set the record straight: You don't need to be a gardening pro to grow roses. But you do need to prune repeat-blooming varieties in early spring to get the best blossoms, says Peter E. Kukielski, a rose curator at the New York Botanical Garden. (Other types can be cut back in early fall.) Rounding up the right items to get you started will help you concentrate on your technique so that your shrub roses and climbers don’t become, um, a thorn in your side. Here's what you’ll need for the task.