Should You Cut Back Roses In The Fall? – When To Prune Your Prized Shrubs For Winter

When fall sets in and plants wind down for the season, it’s natural for gardeners to want to tidy up before the winter frosts take hold. In particular, whether to cut back roses in the fall is a common concern, as the shrubs tend to look sparse and unappealing at this time of year, and may be vulnerable to damage from extreme weather.

Pruning is one of the most important aspects of rose care, but when to make the cut depends on your climate, rose type, and the specific needs of your garden. Knowing how to prune roses the right way will promote healthy growth, shape the plant, and improve airflow, reducing the risk of diseases. For some types of roses, pruning also encourages more blooms.

In general, whether to cut back perennials in the fall is a divisive issue. You may like to get your yard clear and tidy to prepare your garden for winter, or perhaps you are conscious of preserving food for wildlife – such as rosehips – and minimizing new growth on plants over winter.

Here’s what you need to know to make the best decision for your roses.

Should You Cut Back Roses in the Fall?

In colder climates – USDA hardiness zones 6 and below – you should resist the urge to prune in the fall. Performing a full pruning at this time can be risky – particularly as it may stimulate new growth, which is vulnerable to winter frost damage. Heavy pruning in the fall can also lead to dieback, where the plant is damaged and cut too close to the roots.

Instead of a full pruning, opt for a light trim to remove any damaged, dead, or diseased wood and to prevent long branches from being whipped by winter winds, or collapsing under the weight of snow.

Otherwise, wait until early spring, when the plant is no longer dormant, to do a more substantial cut-back.

Should Roses Be Cut Back in Winter in Warmer Climates?

If you live in a warmer climate, then timing rose pruning is a little more complicated. In some areas, roses continue to grow over the cooler months, and if you wait until early spring to prune, then you may be cutting off all your new growth.

Gardeners in warmer zones often need to take a more tailored approach to pruning roses, looking for visual clues that the plants are ready. This may be winter to early spring, or it may be late summer or in the fall.

A moderate pruning in the fall is usually safe in warmer climates and can help roses bloom vigorously come spring. Cutting back roses after summer will tidy up the garden, reduce the plant size, and encourage healthy new growth.

In fall and winter, you can safely cut roses back by a third, removing crossing branches, thinning out crowded stems, and shaping the plant.

What About Rambling Roses?

While most roses are ideally pruned in late winter to spring, there is one exception to the rule. Unlike other rose varieties, rambling roses benefit from being pruned in late summer, after they have finished flowering. However, they can also be hard-pruned between late fall and late winter.

Rambling roses are extremely vigorous, hardy climbing roses. You can tell them apart from other climbing roses due to their expansive growth rate and single bloom time. Pruning rambling roses in late fall or winter is easier to do when the plant is bare, as you can better see how to shape the plant.

Tips for Winter Rose Care

Regardless of where you live, follow these winter rose care tips to protect your shrubs and encourage better blooms come summer.

• Add Mulch: Especially in colder climates, mulching roses around the base of the plant insulates the roots and helps prevent frost damage.
• Tie Loose Canes: In windy areas, use garden ties to secure long canes, so they don’t get damaged in harsh weather.
• Cover Tender Roses: For hybrid teas and other tender varieties, consider using burlap or rose cones to shield them from severe cold.