Question
QUESTION: My husband just decided to do yard-work last Saturday and trimmed off both our rose tres.  I thought you don't do that in the dead of winter.  We live in the east bay area of San Francisco. The temperature around 7 a.m. this morning was at 38 degree Farenheit.  Thanks!

ANSWER: You can safely prune roses until the temperature goes to below freezing and stays there for days or weeks. His pruning won't hurt the rose trees unless he doesn't know how to prune them. Even then they will survive.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Please give us "brown-thumb" gardeners some tips on how to prune.

ANSWER: I will be pleased to give you information on how to prune a rose. However how you prune a rose and when depends on where you garden. People in areas that get a very cold winter have to wait until the spring before they can start to prune for the summer. Others who live where the winter is not cold can prune in the fall. gardeners in warm climates prune their roses differently then those that garden in cold areas. If you would lie to tell me where you garden, I can give you instructions on how to best prune your roses.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Read my original email, I gave you the info already.  Thanks!

Answer
Sorry for the mix-up. My questions all come through individually so I am unable to connect them to another email. In your area you can prune right now. The basic pruning routine for hybrid teas and floribundas, is to cut them back by a third. Never mind what the books tell you  because you won't do any damage by cutting right cross the rose bush. Then cut out any dead or diseased canes. Next look and see if there are any thin canes (thinner than a pencil) because these will not produce the best flowers. Young rose bushes do well with only three cans and mature ones will do fine with 5 canes. What you are doing is making a sturdy base so the rose can produce better canes in the following years. If you cut out the frail canes, which only take away the strength from the thicker ones, you will have a stronger rose bush. However if the rose has just been planted, let it grow for a couple of years and then start your pruning routine. Roses need leaves and canes to bloom well so you want the bush to bulk up and then it will bloom like the pictures.
The main canes on tree roses should be cut back to about 10 inches as the tree rose will make a lot of new growth in the summer. After you have pruned back the main canes, now cut back the smaller canes that are coming from the main ones to about 4 inches. These laterals are where all the flowers will come from. Again cut out any dead or dying growth. Tree roses must be staked because the long Rugosa stem can be broken easily and the top is budded onto the long stem which tends to make for a wobbly head. Another good reason to prune a tree rose fairly hard each year. Tie the stake tight just under the top, halfway down and finally at the base. Even winds will rock the canes and this will disturbed the roots. Hope this helps.