Galica Roses
By Telme8
Vale of Glamorgan,
Wales 
My Scharlachglut rose is about 12 yrs old and grown fairly high with the flower all twards the top, the Stems are quite old and woody now, How can I prune it to get some new growth from the bottom to get some flower lower down. I cut 2 of the of the thickest stems off last year but they died off no new growth came from below the cut.
9 Oct, 2008
The pruning advice for Gallica roses in the RHS book says cut back over-long shoots by up to one third, and reduce sideshoots by two thirds. I don't know if this helps with your mature bush. It also says do this in late summer. (What summer - I'm still waiting!!!)
9 Oct, 2008