When should I prune my rose bushes?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.The timing of your pruning will affect the health of your roses and their blooming success. Pruning at the right time can also prevent any cuts from being impacted by frost. Getting your timing right will help you produce as many blooms as possible this season. However, specific climates will require different approaches; that is, your USDA zone will serve as a guide for your decision-making. Personally, I will adjust my scheduling each year based on the weather patterns.
Evergreen rose kinds are different from the deciduous types because they are governed by different "rules." You must wait until every bloom has finished blooming before pruning. When you see blooms on your evergreens, you will know it is safe to prune. I also have a schedule specifically for my climbers and another one for my shrubs. They grow differently from how we prune roses and thus need a completely separate approach. In no instance should you prune an evergreen type rose while the plant is still producing blooms.
Weather Monitoring
- Check 10-day forecasts for frost risks
- Measure soil temperature at 6-inch depth
- Avoid pruning if temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C) within 48 hours
Plant Assessment
- Identify bud swell on canes before cutting
- Examine for winter damage or broken branches
- Note any disease symptoms on foliage or stems
Protection from frost is still necessary due to early-season pruning. New cuts are at risk when the temperature is below freezing. I cover my newly pruned bushes with frost cloth to protect any exposed tissue/ We do not want cells in the newly pruned bushes to die due to frost damage. I watered the tomatoes deeply before the nights turned cold, to help insulate them in case of frost. These precautions I took to insulate them helped the roses survive the cold fronts that I wasn't expecting.
The formation of buds signifies nature's own means of indicating that it is time to have things pruned. When buds are swollen and reddish in color, it shows that sap is flowing. This biological change signifies that the plant can respond to a wound more quickly. I check the buds every day as the season changes. This method has never failed me when it comes to timing. Your roses will show readiness to be pruned by the clear characteristics of the buds.
Regional differences require site-based phenomenological observing. User seasons, micro-climates, and soil structure all change your ideal pruning date. A south-facing slope thaws its soil weeks before a north-facing slope. An urban garden warms and thaws faster than a rural garden in the same climatic zone. I keep meticulous garden journals that record blooming dates. I will refer to these in the years subsequent, adding layers of efficacy and refinement to my pruning schedule.
Read the full article: 7 Essential Steps for Pruning Rose Bushes
