Stripping the Bush

You'll be very happy if you take this advice:  Strip the bushes of all foliage two weeks before you prune.  When leaves are removed from rosebushes, the plant is given a signal to rejuvenate the foliar process immediately.

The first sign the bush is bouncing back is when you spot swollen eyes where new growth is to appear--at the juncture of leaf formations and the stems on which they grow.  When they are dormant, they may not be easily visible to the human eye.  When their growth begins, however, accelerated by stripping, they swell, turn red, and become more obvious.  When you arrive with pruning shears, you must find these landmarks in order to make cuts in the right places, so make it easy on yourself and give nature a chance to help you.

Foliage should be cut, not ripped, off.  If you tear the leaves off, you may damage the bark just at the juncture where the dormant new bud eye is, stunting or preventing its development.