Is it OK to cut back roses in the fall?

Answer:

Hi,

Ugly as they may be after a long, hot, dry summer we don’t recommend cutting down your roses early, Hybryd Teas or otherwise.

Here in Minnesota, Zone 3/4/5, the advice for our most prevalent rose, the Modern Shrub Rose is to wait to prune until spring: This group of sturdy roses are repeat bloomers, blooming on mature, but not old, woody stems. Leave them unpruned to increase vigor for the first 2 years and then use the “one-third” method. Each year remove one-third of the oldest canes (in addition to any dead, diseased or dying canes).