Pruning roses

(Question)

Can I prune back my roses if they have signs of growth on the stems.

 

(Answer)

Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners with your garden inquiry.

Roses are usually pruned in early spring, when leaf buds on the canes swell and are ready to break. From your photo it appears that your roses have broken bud already and as a result they are ready to be pruned. Begin by pruning out any broken and damaged branches. The next step depends upon the type of rose you have chosen.

Garden Making has an excellent article by Judith Adam on How to Prune Roses. It discusses how to know if the wood is dead and when to remove it, whether you should cut green living wood, how to properly make a pruning cut, and it also has a rose-by-rose pruning guide.

You may also wish to refer to the Toronto Master Gardeners guide on Pruning Roses.