Spring pruning of Colorado Front Range roses should not be done before the third week of April. Close or low pruning of the canes usually stimulates growth. If roses are pruned too early, new growth may be damaged or killed by a late frost.
At the end of April, prune out dead wood, damaged canes, weak, twiggy growth, and old, unproductive canes. The resulting rose may be just a few inches tall. This is acceptable and in many cases desirable. Rose bushes that have been severely damaged by winter's heavy snows can be difficult to prune for shape. It’s a good idea to provide the season’s first fertilization following spring pruning. Use a well-balanced granular fertilizer, incorporating it into the topsoil.
