A rose bush will survive without an annual pruning during its dormant period. It will, however, become a weak, poorly-shaped plant with smaller blooms. ... Pruning removes dead and diseased canes and triggers new buds to push at the base so that new vigorous canes can form.

Why is it important to prune roses?

Pruning is vital to the health of the rose bush, it helps prevent disease by removing areas that may harbor infestations and also encourages flowering. Your roses may look stark after a good pruning, but roses grow very prolifically and will fill in quickly. It's almost impossible to kill a rose bush by over-pruning.

What month should rose bushes be pruned?

A good rule of thumb is to wait until the forsythias are blooming (in very early spring) to prune roses to reduce size, encourage spring growth, and rejuvenate the shrub.