Last year, I almost swore off roses. I pruned them the way YouTube said — short, aggressive, everything cut back to a tidy shape. But when June came, I only got a handful of blooms. My neighbor, a 68-year-old retired horticulturist, walked over, looked for five seconds, and said: “You pruned them like they’re in California. You live in the Midwest. Big difference.” He showed me the real method: Don’t cut roses too early. Late frost destroys fresh growth. Aim for airflow, not shape — remove crossing canes first. Leave more old wood than you think; it stores the plant’s strength. Seal any thick cuts with a bit of wood glue to prevent borers. This spring I did exactly what he said. My roses exploded — deep red clusters, no black spot, no weak stems. People walking their dogs literally slowed down to stare. Sometimes the “rules” aren’t wrong… they’re just not for your climate. #Gardening #Pruning