When to Trim Rose Bushes?

The best time to prune roses is in late winter or early spring, around the time new growth begins. This could be as early as January or as late as May, depending on your climate.

When should roses be cut back?

A good rule of thumb is to wait until the forsythias are blooming (in very early spring) to prune roses to reduce size, encourage spring growth, and rejuvenate the shrub.

Do rose bushes need to be cut back for winter?

But late winter is an ideal time to prune most roses, while the plants are dormant and unlikely to put out tender, new growth that would be damaged in freezing weather. It's usually safe to prune roses in January or February, but perfect timing really depends on the type of roses you're growing and your hardiness zone.