I'll be interested in the answers from more experienced growers than I. My RdlH is some 13 years old, and I have only ever removed dead wood. It seems as if winter has done a pretty good job of taking out the weakest canes. On some other roses, most notably Nevada, it is wise to take out the oldest canes after 5 to 7 years; otherwise, it loses vigour, but I don't know about Rugosas.
Steve

Exactly, I want to make sure I get it right! I was thinking of just pruning out the flimsy tops where flowers used to be.

But I'll withhold the shears until I get a far more experienced answer, lol!

I used to have a hedge of Roserie d'Hay.
The only pruning I ever did, was simply trim back any branches, that grew out of the line of the hedge.
I did that whenever I saw them, no matter what time of the year it was.
I know in the U.K., lots of people simply trim them with a powered hedge cutter, or even a chain saw.
The rose doesn't mind either way.
Daisy

Thanks Daisy!
Somewhat encouraging to hear this rose can take a beating/mowing, perhaps if I mess up it still won't be that bad. I've always been pretty keen on some open character so I was always scared to cut back. Perhaps I'll just cut out some of the really old growth like the small twigs that were the original canes, etc.

Thanks a ton for your input.

- Max

I've been growing her for about 12 years. I usually thin out some of the oldest, woody canes (need a folding saw for these big, thick ones) and any spindly ones too. Then I cut mine back from about 6' to about a 4.5' vase shape, which is fairly light but encourages branching and bushy growth.