Key Points
Lightly pruning roses in fall helps protect them from wind, snow, and ice.Prune in mid-to-late fall. Use clean, sharp tools to remove diseased or dead wood and shorten tall canes.Avoid heavy pruning—just trim unruly growth and let plants enter dormancy naturally.
When temperatures begin to dip, many home gardeners wonder whether it’s time to prune their roses. The short answer is, yes—but only lightly. As with many fall garden chores, timing and technique are everything.
Cutting back during the fall can set your roses up for success for winter. Here, we spoke to a gardening expert about how to do it the right way, without accidentally overpruning.
Fall Pruning
A light trim before winter helps protect roses from the elements.
“Tall, unruly canes are more prone to damage from winter winds, so trimming them back helps to protect the plants through the colder months,” says Brianna Reid, senior horticulturist at Longwood Gardens. “A light fall pruning also helps to set the stage for a more thorough spring pruning.”
According to the New York Botanical Garden, reducing the number of canes can also prevent breakage from snow or ice.
When to Prune
The timing depends on where you live, but generally: “The best time to prune roses in the mid-Atlantic is typically mid-to-late September,” says Reid. “Any time of day works, just avoid pruning during a frost—or immediately after.”
How to Prune
Ready to get started? Here’s how to prune your roses and prepare them for the winter—step by step.
Gather Your Tools
“Before pruning, first take stock of your tools. You’ll need sharp pruners, loppers for thicker canes, good gloves, and disinfectant spray to keep tools clean,” says Reid.
Remove Dead or Diseased Wood
Inspect your roses for any brown or blackened canes—these are often signs of disease. Prune them down until you see greenish-white tissue inside the stem. Disinfect your tools as you make cuts to prevent the spread of fungal infections.
Focus on Reducing Height
In the fall, shaping is less important than cutting back unruly stems—this helps prevent wind damage and reduces the risk of breakage.
Remove any branches that rub against one another, but avoid cutting into healthy green wood unless absolutely necessary—too much pruning can encourage tender new growth that won’t survive winter temperatures.
Avoid Cutting Too Much
The key, Reid says, is restraint: “Because pruning roses often stimulates new growth, fewer cuts are better at this time of year.”
Reid also recommends pulling off any loose petals instead of deadheading roses. “This signals the plant to stop producing new flowers and begin entering dormancy, allowing the old flowers to set hips,” she says.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I prune in the fall, should I skip pruning in the spring?
Not at all—think of fall pruning as a dress rehearsal. “Fall pruning is more of a pre-prune to a more detailed spring pruning,” Reid says.
A light fall trim keeps your roses tidy and resilient through winter storms. “A fall prune can be a little less precise when choosing what and where to cut, knowing you’ll be able to clean up any mistakes or redirect canes in spring,” she adds.
When buds begin to swell in early spring, it’s time for a heavier, more detailed prune.
How else can I prepare my roses for winter?
Reid recommends taking this time to tidy up around your rose beds and remove any plant debris that could be infected with black spot or other common rose diseases.
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