How to Prune Rose Bushes for Winter

One way to help protect your roses is to avoid over cutting. For northern regions, it is best to stop cutting the roses from the bushes by mid-September. Allow the flowers to naturally bloom and fade on the bush. By doing this the rose bush begins to develop seeds, which is a signal to the plant to begin preparing for winter. The rose bush will then settle into a dormant state, which will help protect it for the colder season. Pruning encourages new growth, therefore it should be avoided when preparing for winter.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp gardening shears
• Heavy, protective gardening gloves

Instructions

1. Clean and sanitize the gardening shears. No matter what the season, the shears must be cleaned before and after pruning to avoid spreading diseases. Use sharp blades to make clean cuts and always wear protective gardening gloves to avoid pricking your skin on the sharp thorns.

2. Identify suckers to remove. They are small and pale branches and may have serrated leaves. They are fast growing new shoots that typically spring up from the rootstock.

3. Dig up the ground to expose the rootstock and the area where the sucker is growing. Do this very carefully, as to not overly disturb the rootstock.

4. Cut the sucker off, flush with the root trunk.

5. Prune minimally if necessary to enable bushes to be covered or tied down for severe winter weather. The cuts should be at a 45-degree angle over a stout outer bud.

Tips & Warnings

• If possible, remove suckers long before the bush begins to prepare for winter to avoid pre-winter pruning.

Resources

• Rose Pruning Facts
• Winter Protection for Roses
• FAQ on Roses