Is it too late to prune roses?

[Jono]

Hi all,

I've got a beautiful big rose that grows up against the front of my house. It was small when I moved in, but has grown really large. It desperately needs controlling, but was one of those jobs over winter that I never quite got around to.

Is it too late now?

Thanks,

Jono.

[vicky]

No! But do it soon!

[kentvegplot]

I hope not - I've still got mine to do (having done my Mum's weeks ago).....

[sewer rat]

I only finished pruning the roses in one of the gardens I work in today, but I am considerably further north than you and it was snowing at the time ! You should be alright but I would do it sooner rather than later.

[kalimna]

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but what advice would you give for pruning bush roses? How far do you prune each year? Is it possible to over-prune? Some of my roses (particularly Oranges&Lemons and Port Sunlight) were very leggy last year...

Thank you,
Adam

[piskieinboots]

It's not too late - I did mine only last weekend. I'm a believer in not doing them too early because if we have a warm spell they can kick into young growth and then along comes a nasty Jack F and blackens all the new growth.

Although, I realise this can still happen - but one has to do them sometime!

As for kalimna's question - I prune out what I don't want, i.e. branches that are going to cross over and rub, dead wood, and anything else to give a nice 'bush'.