Wear thick gloves and a couple layers of long-sleeve shirts while pruning to.
Feb 13, The best time to prune roses is in late winter or early spring, around the time new growth begins. This could be as early as January or as late as May, Estimated Reading Time: 7 mins.
If the steps above sound daunting, you don't have to forgo growing roses.
Cut back old wood about 30 to 40 percent before growth begins. Always cut to a live bud pointing away from the center of the shrub to encourage outward growth. Start deadheading after the first flush of flower, and continue throughout the summer to encourage more blooms.
Species Roses, Old Roses, and Once-Blooming Shrub Roses.