Question
I live in south alabama when can i cut my roses back and how far should i cut them back?  When is the best time to start putting fertilizer on them. thank you, thomas

Answer
The general rule is to cut roses back by a third in the spring. Simply cut straight across the whole bush and them cut out any dead or dying type of growth. If you want large hybrid tea blooms, also cut out any cane that is thinner than a pencil. Afterwards sprinkle any type of rose fertilizer all around the base. Then when the rose is taking a rest in July, give it another sprinkle of the fertilizer and it will give you another flush of flowers.