As April arrives and your garden begins to stir, you might find yourself wondering, is it too late to prune my roses? Maybe winter slipped by and you didn’t get to it, or perhaps you're simply not sure when the right time is. If you're looking for a bit of reassurance, you're not alone. Lots of gardeners face this question in early spring.

Pruning roses is one of the best things you can do to encourage healthy growth, colourful flowers and strong, tidy plants. Timing does matter, but if you’re in April and haven’t got round to it yet, all is not lost.

When’s the Best Time to Prune Roses?

The ideal time to prune most roses is while they’re still in their winter rest, before new growth really gets going. This is usually in late winter or very early spring. At this point, the rose isn’t actively growing, so cutting it back won’t interrupt anything. You can clearly see the shape of the plant, which makes it easier to remove any dead, weak or damaged stems and shape it nicely for the season ahead.

Can You Still Prune Roses in April?

Yes, you can. If your roses are just starting to grow, with new shoots appearing but not yet fully covered in leaves, it’s still a good time to prune. The plant is beginning to wake up, but it hasn’t put too much energy into its new growth just yet. Pruning now means you’re less likely to cut away too much of that fresh effort.

Even if your rose has leafed up quite a bit, it’s still worth pruning. The plant might flower a little later than usual, but you’ll still help it grow better over the season. It is much better to prune late than not at all.

What If Your Roses Are Already in Leaf?

If your rose is now in full leaf, it’s not too late. Just go a little more gently. You might want to do a lighter prune so you don’t remove too much of the new growth. The main aim is to remove anything that’s dead or damaged and give the plant some shape.

Do bear in mind that cutting back at this stage might delay flowering a little, as the rose needs to recover and redirect its energy. But don’t worry. You’ll still get lovely blooms, just a bit later than usual.

Haven’t Pruned for a While?

Even if you missed pruning last year, or even the year before, it’s still worth doing. A good prune helps clear out the old, tired wood and encourages strong new growth. It also improves air circulation through the plant, which can help prevent disease and give your rose a real boost for the season.

For some of you, roses are just starting to wake up and leaf out. For those areas, it’s a great time to start pruning.

In warmer regions, however, where roses may already be producing flowers so it’s time to deadhead. If your roses are already flowering or beginning to bud, deadheading will help them focus energy on producing more buds and new growth for the rest of the season.

Keep an eye on your plants to help them thrive in whatever stage they’re at!