Prune Roses in Fall or Spring

Should you prune your roses now in the fall, or wait until spring? While waiting for late winter/early spring is almost always the right answer—giving your plants sacrificial wood against freeze damage and protecting their winter dormancy—there are a few critical times when cutting back in autumn is advisable. In this video, we look at how roses actually manage cold weather, and cover the practical exceptions where fall pruning saves the plant, including taming long canes to prevent wind-rock, prepping potted roses for cold storage, and surviving deep-freeze winters. Here is the straightforward logic to help you decide whether to put the pruners away or make the cut today.