# Pruning climbing roses

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pruning-climbing-roses/379553>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 8, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pruning-climbing-roses/379553 "2006-11-08T14:43:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pruning-climbing-roses/379553/1 "2006-11-08T14:43:09Z")

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I planted some lovely climbing roses this past spring. Now that winter is approaching, I’m thinking I should be pruning them, or should I wait until early spring?

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pruning-climbing-roses/379553/2 "2006-11-08T14:57:32Z")

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Spring.

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**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pruning-climbing-roses/379553/3 "2006-11-08T22:29:20Z")

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Just to expand the answer: Roses should be pruned in mid to late winter. That’s so the new growth, initiated by the pruning and which is quite sappy, does not get killed off.

In New Zealand, I usually try to prune in late July, allowing the new growth and buds to be ready for flowering in late October to early November. Adjust the months to allow for your local climate.

Cheers,  
Kiwi