QuestionI failed to prune my rose bushes in March of this year. Now they are too tall and in full bloom. Can I safely cut them back now?
AnswerRoses can be pruned even in the summer. But what you do is delay the flowering. It takes about 6 weeks for a rose to bloom from when it started to leaf out. If you cut the rose back after it has started into growth it will take another 3 weeks later for it to bloom. Because you roses are now blooming, if you prune them hard, it may delay the next flush for about a month. Rose growers keep unwanted tall growth down by pruning the bushes in the spring and also in the summer. You won't hurt or kill the rose by pruning now. Hope this helps.