I just planted a short hedge of 4 icebergs last spring. These were all bareroot plants and did well. In the fall they sent up a lot of long thin canes.

I'm wondering, what is the best strategy for pruning these come spring? Should I leave them be this year without any pruning? Should I begin already to prune to encourage the eventual hedge shape? Or should I prune normally to remove dead/weak canes?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

They will look best with a prune every year, but when young the lighter the better, until they get very well established root systems. Let them build up some strength first. The best hedges I have seen get pruned hard every year, down to about 18". This after they have settled in for two or three years. Then after every flush of bloom cut them back lightly but evenly for the hedge effect. You can use hedge trimmers if they produce a clean cut.

Hard pruning I would not do to any other rose. 'Iceberg' seems to take it just fine, in Southern California.

These get pruned to 12-18" every January:

What do you have in mind by "eventual hedge shape"? The natural form of Iceberg is somewhat arching and wide, generally considered an attractive feature/

I'm not looking for these to grow into a well-manicured hedge. I have them along a picket fence now, so I'm hoping to get them to look like the picture posted by hoovb above.

I guess what I wondered simply how long to wait to get them established before I do any "real" pruning.

All of my plants are about knee to thigh high, but have many very thin canes.

Around here the shopping centers mow-blow guys leave about 18" to 2 feet when they prune and they sure bounce back well to about 36"

I was just looking at them the other day as was thinking "hmmmm I wonder what to with them this spring." And so, I posted the question.

Thanks for all the replies!