prune back to about 6 or 8 inches from the base of the shrub at a 45-degree angle at the closest bud union. you can see that bud right there, it's ready to rock and roll next spring. i'm getting rid of that spindly material. i'm considering those buds. pruning back at a 45-degree angle. and my goal, ultimately, is about 3 or 5 canes. 45-degree angle. spindly branches gone. before you know it, you're left with a shrub that looks like this. and i know it's scary as all get out, but the reality is it's gonna perform for you in the spring. the next step is removing all the leaf litter. this leaf litter will over winter fungus that we don't want. rust, powdery mildew, black spots. get it out of there and throw it into your compost pile. once you've gotten rid of all your leaf litter, the next step is top dressing with a good, well-balanced planting mix or mulch. really good stuff that we're gonna add to the mix and dress around the base of the rose. a little organic fertilizer like this dr. earth label. well-balanced, beneficial microbes. pepper in a little bit of that on your shrub. and gettin