How far back do I prune mature roses for the winter?

These are growing to a height of 8 feet and I would perfer them shorter.

How far back do I prune mature roses for the winter?
I'd rather cut them back in the spring, after bud-break. Allow winter to take it's course, it may kill back some of the plant, you never know.



It is important to know what kind of rose you have. If it's a modern rose (and not a climber), you can pretty much have your way with it, reducing it in size as you see fit. If it is an antique rose, same sort of rules apply, but be aware, it might grow back just as strong as you've cut it back. Some roses (most notably climbers and ramblers, especially older varieties) bloom from older wood. A cutting back may reduce the quantity of flowers.



If you decide to reduce the size of your rose, I would probably remove a few of the oldest canes to the ground (or about there), and let new ones develop in their place. Generally roses bloom best off of young wood (except climbers as above). Every year do this, until most of the oldest wood is gone.



If you do it that way, and discover, darn! it bloomed better with that older wood, you can stop before you've destroyed your rose.



I hope that this helps

Good luck-
Reply:How To Prune Roses at The Rose Gardening Guide

Good information about How To Prune Roses at The Rose Gardening Guide ... easy solution is inter-planting, or growing your roses among other shorter plants. ...www.rosegardeningguide.com/links/How_... - 16k
Reply:Today I cut down some of my scraggly roses to four or five feet, basically just evening them out so they won't break in the snowfall and not taking too much for the winter.
Reply:I would cut them back the least ammount you can get away with that will allow protection from winter winds damaging the canes. The less pruning the better however so that the plant is not encouraged to put out new growth and then in turn be bitten by frost!
Reply:Cut them back to a foot an a half. then next year they can start a new.
Reply:I have cut mine back to about 3 to 4 feet.

that seems to work for me.
Reply:prune back til you get too the old wood.....brown on green stems.

but dont cut back climbers, just trim them. wont bloom next season if u cut back to short.