question about roses? should I prune them in winter or wait till spring?

I have some rose bushes that are thirty eight years old. I have always pruned them in November/December but that depends on where you live. During the winter months, the plant stores up energy to grow new roots and grow healthy new buds in the spring. Prune them about 12 to 24 inches off the ground, and cut out any cross branches and dead or dying branches. Cut at a forty five degree angle so water doesn't just sit there on the cut and cause bacteria to enter. Seal any stem larger than a pencil. I just use plain white glue. Make sure your tools are really sharp so you get a nice clean cut.

a lot depends on the size of the plant.... a hybrid tea that grew tall , over five ft or so, would do well to be cut back by about half so that winter winds or ice storms or whatever befalls in winter there would not harm the plant by breaking or weighing down the stems...... then in spring, an overall pruning to remove dead wood and shape it for the coming season......

shorter, bushier roses can be left for spring pruning.....

climbers should be secured to a support and left until after they bloom for any pruning....

I do it twice - once in the fall to give a good general shape and again in spring when the new growth is about to appear. The second pruning allows me to select the healthiest-looking buds to cut back to. However, much depends on the type of roses you have or what you are trying to achive.

if you prune 6 weeks before the last frost it will be fine .

for your beachside location in perth western australia with warmer temps at moment in winter..

.then prune right now... that is winter pruning will be fine.

It depends on which type of roses you have - different roses have different needs. This site explains very well how and when to prune.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/p...