· if you forget to prune your shrub rose and it is too late in spring, the best thing you can do is to delay your pruning until early summer. You can tidy up your shrub rose, by cutting any thin stems or weak growth and removing any dead or damaged stems that appear brown or black. The southern living garden book reports, the best pruning time for most roses is at the end of the dormant season, when growth buds begin to swell. This moment signals that your rose is coming out of dormancy and is ready to grow again. Don’t prune roses after september 1. Luckily, there is still time, but don’t leave it much longer because pruning your roses too late can lead to lacklustre or late flowers. · so, is it too late to prune roses ? Depending on your rose and where you live, you just may be in luck. Timing pruning correctly will promote increased bloom as well as reduce the likelihood of disease. This is because pruning signals to the plant that it’s time to put out new growth. · the best time to prune is late winter to early spring , just as the buds begin to swell but before new leaves unfold. · generally, it is too late to prune roses once they have gone dormant—that is, in the fall and winter months. · is it too late to prune roses ? When and how to prune roses can vary from one type to another. · when to prune roses depends on the season, but more importantly, there are key signs to look for. Instead of using your pruners for trimming your roses for winter, just clean and sharpen the blades so theyre ready to go next spring.