late spring pruning of roses issue: prune how hard?
 

Hi folks,

I'd appreciate some help on this one. We've got some shrub roses that
we've waited too long to prune here in Nevada. We should have pruned
them by May 1 AND we are having a warmer than normal spring (now in
the 80's) where normally it is 60's for this time of year. Many of
the roses already have a first flush of almost mature buds.

I am concerned that if we prune them too hard (shearing all the buds
and cutting the canes in half or more) that after putting so much
energy into this first flush, that they will be disadvantaged/slow to
recover and create a second bloom.

What do you think?

thanks,
shanti

late spring pruning of roses issue: prune how hard?
 

You can do a light prune about any time (leaving most of the leaves),
but I would not do a heavy prune until fall or late winter now. The
only time I do a heavy prune after the leaves come out is if the
bushes show signs of black spot or have some other major damage.

On Mon, 14 May 2012 22:27:25 -0700 (PDT), Ashanti
wrote:

Hi folks,

I'd appreciate some help on this one. We've got some shrub roses that
we've waited too long to prune here in Nevada. We should have pruned
them by May 1 AND we are having a warmer than normal spring (now in
the 80's) where normally it is 60's for this time of year. Many of
the roses already have a first flush of almost mature buds.

I am concerned that if we prune them too hard (shearing all the buds
and cutting the canes in half or more) that after putting so much
energy into this first flush, that they will be disadvantaged/slow to
recover and create a second bloom.

What do you think?

thanks,
shanti

You can do a light prune about any time (leaving most of the leaves),
but I would not do a heavy prune until fall or late winter now. The
only time I do a heavy prune after the leaves come out is if the
bushes show signs of black spot or have some other major damage.