Rose Pruning
by Curtis Smith, PhD, NMSU Extension Specialist
Rose pruning in fall is discouraged
Q. I was told that I should not prune my roses in the fall. They have gotten large and block my sidewalk. They need to be pruned. Why is it recommended that they not be pruned now?
A.A.
Albuquerque
A. The roses most commonly grown in New Mexico (and elsewhere) are hybrid tea, floribunda, and grandiflora roses. One of the ancestors of these roses is the China tea rose which is from tropical regions and does not confer dormancy on its offspring. These roses stop growing when the weather cools, but are ready to grow as soon as warm weather resumes. In New Mexico we often have periods of warm weather in late winter followed by cold weather. If the roses are induced to grow by these warm periods, the new growth may be killed when cold temperatures return. If the roses have been pruned, there may be no buds left to replace those injured by freezing. The rose shrub may die or the new growth may develop from the rootstock. The rootstock does not usually produce flowers as desirable as the variety that was grafted onto it.
Delaying winter/spring pruning until about one month before the expected last freeze in your area will reduce the chances of extreme damage to your roses. (article continued at SW Yard and Garden column November 5, 2009)
