Question about roses...I live in nw Ohio, have several rose bushes,

[madmom]

normally I trim them back and cover them for winter, this year I was rather busy and didn't get it done. So my question what do I do now, leave them and prune in the spring or something else all together? Some of them are quite big. Thanx for any info.

[Imalittleteapot]

1. Prune in late winter

I've always read that you should prune before the rose starts spring growth. In North Texas we prune around Feb. 15th. I imagine that in Ohio it would be at least a month later.

I heard that you shouldn't prune roses at the end of the season because the wounds won't heal while it's dormant and bugs can get into the stems. Don't know if that's true or not.

Your plants will be fine.

[tekisui]

2. I Agree with the first response.

Your roses are essentially asleep now. They won't *know* if you prune anytime from today until the Spring when the new growth starts. Sooner, rather than later would ensure heal time.

[LiberalEsto]

3. When you DO prune

put Elmer's glue on the cut areas. It keeps out the rose borers.

Here in Maryland, I prune roses in March. But I sometimes also lop down long stems in the late fall to keep them from breaking in ice and heavy snow.

[madmom]

4. yes I knew about the elmer's glue, and thanks everyone for the info!

[Blue Gardener]

5. From Ohio State Extension Service

Information about growing roses in Ohio:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1205.html

Hope this helps! I find information from the extension services to be very reliable.