Question
I live near Green Bay, Wisconsin and I was wondering when should I prune our rose bushes for the best growth possible.

Answer
In your area, spring can give you all sorts of different type weather, so it is best to wait until all chances of a hard frost are over. Roses don't mind frost, just not a hard frost. Pruning does activate growth but a hard frost will set it back and even cause the tips of the new cut canes to die. A good idea is to check when a park in your area prunes their roses. It is better to wait as it doesn't matter if the roses have started to bud out when you do prune. Pruning doesn't have to be done when they are inactive.