Cut stems just above an outward-facing bud wherever possible.

These are available as container-grown plants, or as bare-root plants from November through to March.

pruning rose bushes in october Feb 03, How To Prune Bush Roses In Autumn. Bush roses need light pruning in autumn to stop them being up-rooted by winter winds. Steve Redman from Holland Park in Lo. In general, you will be pruning rose bushes just before the plant breaks dormancy after spring's final frost. This will be early in the year in warm climates, and anytime between January and April in cold climates.

If it's old roses you are tending, prune them after blooming. They bear flowers on last year's wood.

With rugosa and other shrub roses where hips are a part of the display, you may not want to prune off the old flowers. In this case, simply clean the spent blooms away with your hand, leaving the hips. Flowers should not be cut after October 1 to allow the plant to begin hardening off for the winter.