Cutting back

[Naomi]

I'm looking to cut back my roses. They have stopped flowering so am thinking that now would be a good time to cut them right back?

The front rose bush hasn't been cut for atleast 5 years

[Sweet]

Sorry I cannot help, I am not very green fingered, wish I was though! x

[EmmaG]

Yes November is an ideal time to cut your roses back, most of them can be cut back VERY hard.

Good luck

[sandy]

Early spring is the time for proper pruning. I'll tell you exactly how to prune if you tell me what kinds of roses you have.

Autumn pruning, if done at all, should be limited to a trim of very long shoots, just in case you get wind-rocking from very heavy gales which might uproot them a bit. Otherwise only spring and summer pruning should be done.

I'm not doing any rose pruning this autumn.

[EmmaG]

Thats interesting Sandy, I was always told by a professional rose grower that November was the best time to hard prune roses.

[alexgirl73]

I'm not touching my little baby rose bush lol. I have no idea what kind it is or care of it as I bought it from the local poundshop in the summer, it is however flowering at the moment (for the second time since I planted it), and it has lovely little salmon colured flowers. Very beautiful (and I'm chuffed with it).

[sandy]

Originally Posted by EmmaG

Thats interesting Sandy, I was always told by a professional rose grower that November was the best time to hard prune roses.

I can only think that this was some kind of misunderstanding, Emma. There are hefty disputes about ways of pruning, but I've never heard any rose grower arguing for main pruning in the autumn.

[dandysmom]

I too have always restricted Autumn pruning to long, whippy canes; do serious pruning in the Spring when you can see of there's been any dieback, and can shape the bush.

[EmmaG]

Just had a google and it seems that if you live in a mild area (not sure how mild the UK is) hard pruning of roses then is fine in November

http://www.rosebuddies.com/rules.html I found a few other sites which varified this.

Thought it was rather strange as it was my aunty who allways said that pruning roses in November was the best time and she worked for David Austin Roses my dad always said that November was the best time, obviously my auntie told him this!!! lol

[sandy]

Originally Posted by EmmaG

Just had a google and it seems that if you live in a mild area (not sure how mild the UK is) hard pruning of roses then is fine in November

http://www.rosebuddies.com/rules.html I found a few other sites which varified this.

Thought it was rather strange as it was my aunty who allways said that pruning roses in November was the best time and she worked for David Austin Roses my dad always said that November was the best time, obviously my auntie told him this!!! lol

Hmmm. You prune just above a unemerged bud node. These don't appear until the spring. You are also exposing the pruned stem to wet and cold, which could seriously damage it. Ah well, each to his own.