Winter Pruning Roses: Why It Matters and How to Do It Right

melaniekerr
Oct 15
2 min read

As the garden winds down for winter, it’s the perfect time to turn your attention to your roses. After a long, hot summer, many roses — especially climbers and those on arches — have put on a huge amount of growth. Left unchecked, they can become tangled, unruly, and more susceptible to disease.

That’s where winter pruning comes in. Pruning your roses in winter isn’t just about neatness; it’s about setting the stage for a healthier, more beautiful display in the coming season.

Why Prune Roses in Winter?

Winter pruning, usually done between late December and early February, has several benefits:

Encourages Strong, Healthy Growth Cutting back the old wood allows the plant to channel energy into fresh, productive stems in spring.
Prevents Wind Damage Tall, leggy growth can be snapped by wind and bad weather. Pruning reduces strain on the plant structure.
Shapes the Plant It’s the best time to restore or maintain shape, especially for climbing roses or those trained over arches and pergolas.
Controls Pests and Disease Removing dead or damaged wood and opening up the plant allows better airflow and reduces the chance of black spot, mildew, and other issues.

What Roses Can Be Pruned in Winter?

Bush roses (like hybrid teas and floribundas)
Climbing roses
Shrub roses
Standard or tree roses

Note: Avoid pruning rambling roses in winter — they prefer a lighter touch in summer, just after flowering.

How to Prune Roses in Winter – A Quick Guide

Use sharp, clean secateurs to avoid crushing stems or spreading disease.
Remove any dead, damaged or crossing stems. These can rub and create entry points for disease.
Cut just above an outward-facing bud, sloping the cut away to direct rainwater off.
For bush roses, reduce height by about a third to a half, depending on size and vigour.
Climbing roses need older, unproductive wood removed and younger stems tied in horizontally to encourage more flowering shoots.
Clear away prunings don’t compost diseased material.

Don’t Forget Rose Arches and Climbers

Roses trained over arches and structures often go wild in summer. Winter is the time to:

Untangle and retrain main stems
Remove weak or dead growth
Tie new shoots in to support strong flowering next season

Not Sure Where to Start? We Can Help.

Winter pruning can feel daunting, especially with mature or overgrown roses in all areas of Bristol. If you're not confident or just want a professional touch we’re here to help.

We cover all areas of Bristol For more information on how to book your slot this Winter, head to the website https://www.melaniekerrgardenservices.co.uk/garden-maintenance-bristol