Can i cut my rose bush to the ground

Pruning your roses at the right time is essential for keeping these plants thriving and flowering at their best.

How to trim roses in summer

The majority, including most bush and climbing types, should be pruned when dormant in late winter – but it's important not to do this too early, or they can become susceptible to cold damage. 'Speak to any professional gardener and they will advise that pruning back your rose bushes too early could kill or seriously set back the health of the plant,' advises Homes & Gardens garden writer, Rachel Crow.

Rambling roses, however, are best routinely pruned in late summer.

For repeat-blooming shrub roses – and shrub roses that don't produce hips – deadheading should also be part of your pruning routine. This is done throughout the flowering period.

It may seem confusing, but once you know the varieties of roses you're growing in your garden and the basics of how to prune roses, it doesn't have to be – especially with the help of this guide.

How your location impacts when to prune roses

Your USDA hardiness zone

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