Pruning shrub roses is important to keep them healthy and looking beautiful for blooming next year, and one gardening expert has explained the best time to do it.

In early fall, stop cutting your rose flowers and let the plants form hips (seedpods) as they being to prepare themselves naturally for winter.

Late fall and winter are the prime times for roses, as at this point in the year, they are dormant, giving the roots the perfect opportunity to grow and establish.

While winter is the ideal season to cut back garden roses, leading British rose breeders David Austin Roses claim later is better than never if you haven’t yet done it.

Related: How to Prune Roses the Right Way When to Cut Back Roses Roses should be cut back in late winter or early spring while they are still dormant.

Late fall and winter are the prime times for roses, as at this point in the year, they are dormant, giving the roots the perfect opportunity to grow and establish.

Here are some helpful recommendations, drawn from Rose Society publications, to prepare your roses for winter. Begin early by cleaning out excessive bushy growth.

When to Cut Back Roses Roses should be cut back in late winter or early spring while they are still dormant. "Pruning stems at this time promotes fresh shoots to emerge from the base of the plant ...

It's important to understand how to get roses ready for winter. Doing things improperly can sometimes cause damage to the plant.

Q. How can I prepare my roses for winter? -- Stephanie, Clintondale A. One of the ways to protect roses for the winter is to be sure they go completely dormant. To accomplish this, stop fertilizing… ...

Cutting your losses For old rose bushes that may have died off, Mr Hanna said the best treatment was to cut them back to just above ground level.

I know I was. The thought of fragrant cut roses on the dining room table danced in my head at the time, but now these beauties need a little extra tender loving care to make it through winter.