You may be tempted to rein in your roses before winter winds whip through and piles of snow bend the canes to the ground. But when is it too late to prune roses in the fall? If winter is just around the corner, it's best to leave your pruners in the garden shed. Here's how to figure out if you should wait until spring to prune your roses, along with tips on the best times for cutting back all types of roses.
Rose Preparation for Winter
Roses, like other woody landscape plants, naturally prepare themselves for winter dormancy. While we only see the leaves drop externally, all kinds of other processes are happening under the bark. As daylight hours decrease and daytime temperatures drop in fall, roses begin moving nutrients from leaves and tender twigs back to more mature parts of stems and the root system.
This transition of nutrients is a little like recycling-instead of discarding the valuable nutrients when leaves fall and small stems are killed by cold temperatures, the plant is reclaiming the nutrients for use next year. Systematically moving and storing nutrients amplifies the plant's ability to withstand freeze-thaw cycles and frigid temperatures in the coming months.
Should You Prune Roses in Fall?
Pruning removes growth tips-the ends of rose canes where new growth is initiated. Cutting off a growth tip spurs the plant to send nutrients to the area to regenerate growth as fast as possible. This quick response is a survival tactic, should a stem suffer damage from animals or other causes.
When cut back in the fall, roses send nutrients out into the far reaches of the plant, reversing the downward flow of nutrients that is prevalent in autumn. The new nutrient traffic pattern disrupts winter hardiness preparations.
Plant scientists believe that it can takes weeks for plants to regain hardiness after fall pruning. Often extreme winter weather sets in before fall pruned roses are fully winter hardy. The rose will likely suffer stem dieback to near ground level or the whole plant might not survive.
Bottom line: don't prune roses after September 1. Instead of using your pruners for trimming your roses for winter, just clean and sharpen the blades so they're ready to go next spring.
When to Prune Roses
When you prune is just as important as what you prune in the world of roses. Pruning at the wrong time can eliminate flowers or make the plants more susceptible to winter injury. Use this seasonal calendar as a general guide to pruning practices for all types of roses.
Spring
When forsythia shrubs begin blooming and buds on rose canes swell, it's time to prune. Spring is the primary pruning season for roses. Cut out dead, diseased, and damaged stems. Remove stems that are rubbing together or growing toward the center of the plant. Remove weak and wispy stems. Reduce the length of shrub rose canes by half their length or more. Prune all roses to a pleasing shape.
Summer
Prune away dead, diseased, and damaged canes whenever they are noticed. While it's not necessary, deadheading-cutting away spent blooms-can give shrub roses a tidy appearance and spur more flowers for form. Stop pruning and deadheading your roses in the beginning of September to allow the rose time to prepare for winter.
Fall
Do not prune in fall. Instead, watch for rose hips to form. These fruiting structures are colorful and a welcome treat for wildlife. Leave hips in place for wildlife to enjoy during winter.
Winter
Do not prune roses in winter. Wait until forsythia shrubs are flowering and buds swell on rose canes before pruning in late winter or early spring.
