Some of my rose bushes are still in leaf as a result of the mild weather we’ve has this winter, while a couple are even flowering. Is it still okay to prune them, or will I damage them by doing so?
Siobhan H, Dublin
Prior to Christmas, when you sent this query, we had had an exceptionally mild, wet start to winter, with few frosty nights or chilly days. As a result, many roses have been slow to settle into their normal cycle of winter dormancy in milder parts of the country, while some are, as you say, even continuing to flower intermittently.
This makes traditional late winter pruning more challenging in terms of timing. Ideally, the plants should be pruned when they’re not in…