Question of the Week: Roses are stunning but require some TLC!

"Some see thorns and complain; I see roses and am thankful." – Unknown Q: When and how should you prune hybrid tea roses?

A: Major pruning for hybrid tea roses, and all roses, should have been done in early spring. Since rose canes can be damaged by low temperatures, it’s best to delay pruning until after winter has taken its toll. This way, you can identify which canes have been killed by the cold.

Ideally, prune after the coldest days have passed and before the buds start to swell in spring. However, with the unpredictable weather in Santa Fe, it’s okay to wait a bit longer. Delaying may postpone your rose’s bloom, but that’s better than pruning too early and causing additional winter damage, which would require another round of pruning later on.