previous
  • Homegrown / Homemade
    Homegrown / Homemade
  • Colorful Selections for Shade
    Colorful Selections for Shade
  • Fragrant Plants for Pathways
    Fragrant Plants for Pathways
  • Comfortable Alfresco Dining
    Comfortable Alfresco Dining
  • Stylish Shady Containers
    Stylish Shady Containers
  • NEW Video Series: There's a Better Way
    NEW Video Series: There's a Better Way
  • Elephant's Ears
    Elephant's Ears
  • Dwarf Citrus Trees
    Dwarf Citrus Trees
  • Make a Succulent Topiary
    Make a Succulent Topiary
  • Containers as Focal Points
    Containers as Focal Points
  • Indeterminate or Determinate Tomatoes?
    Indeterminate or Determinate Tomatoes?
  • Plant an Easy-to-Water Strawberry Jar
    Plant an Easy-to-Water Strawberry Jar
  • Save Money by Growing Your Own
    Save Money by Growing Your Own
  • In Pursuit of the Perfect Potting Shed
    In Pursuit of the Perfect Potting Shed
  • Building a Compost Bin
    Building a Compost Bin
  • Designing with Curved Terraces
    Designing with Curved Terraces
  • Fast-Growing Trees for Impatient Gardeners
    Fast-Growing Trees for Impatient Gardeners
  • Slideshow: Beautiful Clematis
    Slideshow: Beautiful Clematis
  • Garden Confidential: A Plant Walks into a Bar
    Garden Confidential: A Plant Walks into a Bar
  • Fine Gardening's Tip Off!
    Fine Gardening's Tip Off!
  • Meet Our Mini-Magazines
    Meet Our Mini-Magazines
  • Mulch for a Healthy Garden
    Mulch for a Healthy Garden
  • 6 Tips for Weed Control
    6 Tips for Weed Control
  • Thoughts From a Foreign Field
    Thoughts From a Foreign Field
  • Pretty in Pink
    Pretty in Pink
next

What time of year should I prune my roses?

comments (8) February 27th, 2011 in blogs
PFZimmerman Paul Zimmerman, contributor
6 users recommend
Spring is almost here and the Daffodils are blooming on our farm. Click the image to enlarge.

Spring is almost here and the Daffodils are blooming on our farm.

Photo: Paul Zimmerman Roses
Add CommentAdd Comment
PrintPrint

This is a question I get a lot from folks who live where there is a true winter with freezing temperatures.  Everyone seems confused as to when they should prune their roses.  Interestingly enough most seem to feel it should revolve around man-made calendar dates like October or January.  Some advocate pruning later, some sooner and some say just do it when you have time.

Here’s why the timing does matter.  Pruning too soon may stimulate tender new growth during a warm spell that could be killed later by a freeze.  Prune too late and you won’t get that great spring bloom.

So what is the best time to prune so you don’t get into trouble?

I have a real simple answer that has nothing to do with the calendar.

Prune when the Forsythia begins to bloom.

Period.

What I loved about this from the moment I heard it is that it’s nature is telling us when it’s time to prune.  You see, we don’t know if it’s going to be a long or short winter and no annual yanking of Punxsutawney Phil out of the comfort of his home is going to make us any wiser.

But the plants know.  If it’s a long winter they bloom later.  During a short winter they bloom sooner.  So keep an eye out for the Forsythia and when they start to bloom – start to prune.

Happy Roseing
Paul

posted in: Pruning
Add CommentAdd Comment PrintPrint
Back to List

Comments (8)

CarrieRose writes: Exactly what I was looking for... thank you! Posted: 8:34 am on February 16th
NWKansas writes: Kind of a stupid answer if there are no forsythia in the area. Posted: 4:22 pm on October 30th
pwarrenbaton writes: My late mother always said that, too, and that's when we did it in the Philadelphia area. The forsythia are starting to bloom here and I just started pruning mine today, nine down, four to go--the deer have been pruning them for me all winter, of course. So I did hit all of them with DeerOff...Triangle Area, NC, zone 7B or 8, depending on who you trust (I lean toward zone 8 myself...sure different from growing roses in northern Vermont!) Posted: 8:33 pm on March 5th
seil writes: I've been using this rule of thumb for years. A lot of people think it's an old wives tale but it makes perfect sense to me. No matter where you live the forsythia are not going to bloom until the soil temperature is warm enough to support active growth. A short warm spell won't bring it up enough to do that. But when it's been warming for a consistant and long enough time the soil will warm up enough for things to begin to grow and the forsythia will bloom. And that's when you can prune your roses!

Always love your articles and advice, Paul, thanks! Posted: 1:07 pm on March 5th
PFZimmerman writes: Excellent article. Keep in mind pruning "the traditional way" by cutting them down to 18" etc is designed to give you long stem blooms for exhibition. Also less blooms because you want the few you have to be large.

I always keep my shrub roses around 3-5 feet when I prune for the exact reason you mention. I want maximum display.

There is no one correct pruning method. As with most plants it has to do with the what the variety of rose is and how you want it to look in your garden! Posted: 3:58 pm on February 28th
HummingbirdGardensCa writes: This is great advice! This year I pruned half of my roses the "traditional" way and the other half I pruned lightly, removing no more than one-third. According to the author in this link, pruning by only one-third will increase the vigor of the rose bush and increase the number of rose blooms.
Has anyone else tried it?

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/29/3360300/pruning-lightly-has-rewards-more.html# Posted: 9:25 am on February 28th
PFZimmerman writes: Glad it helped! Posted: 8:44 am on February 28th
viktoriamullin writes: This is the answer! Thank you so much, finally, this spring I will not be experimenting with the time to prune my roses; especially with my shrubs which are about 10-12 feet already. Posted: 8:22 am on February 28th
You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.