Is It The Right Time To Prune Rose Plants In…
Basith Asked
Is it the right time to prune rose plants in Louisville, Kentucky?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Basith in Kentucky: Yes! Spring is right around the corner and now is a great time to cut your roses back. The best time to prune your rose is late winter/early spring before new growth begins. Pruning while they are dormant will make them less susceptible to winter injury. Pruning encourages new growth and new growth is tender enough to be burned by winter temperatures. Pruning after a growing season has ended and dormancy occurs ensures that all the new growth that happened the previous season is hardened off. We prune roses to maintain size and on older plants it helps to invigorate them, but we also should prune to remove dead/diseased or crossing canes; this can be done any time of year. As a general rule, it is best not to remove more than one-third of the size of the rose during a pruning session. Do this year after year to maintain the size you want. Use a clean, sharp, and rust-free pair of pruners. Make your cuts flush to the nearest intersecting branch so there are no stubs.
