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Sep 17, Always prune in early spring when new shoots are beginning to form on the canes. Prune to about a third of the desired final size. Knock Out roses typically triple in size after pruning. Remove dead or damaged wood when you see it. Every two or three years, remove a third of old growth to rejuvenate the shrub. The David Austin Rose company website recommends pruning your English roses about as much, or as little, as you like in the summertime.

Simply keep the roses at the height, and in the shape, you prefer. When you cut back flowering stems, leave 2 or 3 buds on the summer growth. In the cold season, prune English roses by 1/3 to 2/3 of their height. Knock Out Roses Pruning Steps: To maintain a size of 3–4’ w x 3–4’ h, Knock Out Roses should be cut back once a year to 12” high.

Check your rose bush from time to time in late winter/early spring, and when you start to see new shoots growing from the canes on your rose bush, that’s a good sign that it’s time to prune. Don't prune your roses at this time, unless there is a concern that canes and branches could be broken when loaded with snow. Tree Roses: In areas where winter temperatures are below 10°F., remove any stakes and gently dig away soil on one side.

Bend your tree rose downward to the ground and cover it with straw first, then soil. “Pruning in fall will kill them” said Jacko, a rose expert who grows varieties at her home in Hinckley. Pruned roses lose food stored in the branches that will keep roots healthy over winter. Do severe pruning in late winter or early spring to minimize the stress on the plants and achieve the best results. Wait until right after flowering to prune spring blooming shrubs like lilac and forsythia.

These set their flowering buds on wood formed the season prior to flowering. Late summer and dormant pruning eliminates the spring flowers. Hybrid Musk Roses: Prune lightly to remove spent bloom clusters and maintain a rounded bush that is 3- to 4-feet tall, or more if you have room.

Hybrid Musks tolerate severe pruning if space is limited. Miniature Roses: Should be cut back by 1/3 in the spring.