[hasbeans]

I have rose bush that really needs taming.  Normally I would just dead head after first flowering (flowering now) and get a second bloom  end of summer.  I'd really like to prune it back hard to about 3ft tall as it's currently got quite a few stems waving around about 9ft up!  Will I kill it if I cut back hard after flowering in summer.  I'd like to get it down to below first leaves.  Not sure what type it is, vigorous, a modern hybrid I think.

Thanks.

[Goosegirl]

Sounds like a modern hybrid that can also be grown as a climber like my Gertrude Jeykll. You may lose some flowers but it shouldn't kill it.

[mumofstig]

I wouldn't prune it to below first leaves right after flowering - I'd do it in stages, remove a couple of feet then, and then the rest once it has lost all its leaves in winter

[hasbeans]

Thank you both.  It smells too good to risk so I'll start with a couple of foot and do the rest this winter.