Drift rose pruning

[Anonymous]

Too late to prune drift roses? We pruned our drift roses in late spring after the first set of blooms dried out. They are looking kind of wild now with all the new growth from after the first pruning. Do we still have time to prune them or should we wait until winter?

[Anonymous]

You can, but they’ll grow new growth from where you prune them before it gets cold which will a) take up energy the plant might otherwise store and b) possibly be too tender to survive the winter.

Roses are tough though, I wouldn’t overthink it. Clean them up if it’s bothering you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can, but they’ll grow new growth from where you prune them before it gets cold which will a) take up energy the plant might otherwise store and b) possibly be too tender to survive the winter.

Roses are tough though, I wouldn’t overthink it. Clean them up if it’s bothering you.

Also next year, do the major pruning in late January. Just deadhead/clean up after the first bloom.