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Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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If they insist, do it, but get their request in writing. What is likely to happen in a cold winter climate is more die-back
so there will be a lot of cleaning up to do in spring, with dead branches to be trimmed or removed. It will most likely survive, but just end up much shorter.
For most perennials that will be exposed to freezing temperatures, the key to success is this: Prune when the plant is dormant. If you prune at a time that the buds will break due to the pruning, all of that growing tissue then will be killed by freezing temps.
That is why the best times to prune are in the summer and in the dead of winter. If you prune within 2 to 3 mo before freezing, those new little branches that will be encouraged to grow out will not have enough time to toughen up (also called hardening). Freezing will kill them, and that will be that. If you had wanted to prune in early Fall but missed your time, wait until after freezing has occurred. Then your pruning will not have any adverse effects.
Of course with a plant that you cut back hard, meaning within a foot of the ground, it may be as cindersslipper says. There may not be any buds to be liberated at that time, so maybe you'll be okay. Just remember to mulch the crown to protected it from freezing if you can.
You don't say where you are located. In NY and DE. I cut the roses way down in Mid-March every year. I never have a problem and my roses were and are beautiful. I would want to know where you are located in order to comment.
For most perennials that will be exposed to freezing temperatures, the key to success is this: Prune when the plant is dormant. If you prune at a time that the buds will break due to the pruning, all of that growing tissue then will be killed by freezing temps.
That is why the best times to prune are in the summer and in the dead of winter. If you prune within 2 to 3 mo before freezing, those new little branches that will be encouraged to grow out will not have enough time to toughen up (also called hardening). Freezing will kill them, and that will be that. If you had wanted to prune in early Fall but missed your time, wait until after freezing has occurred. Then your pruning will not have any adverse effects.
Of course with a plant that you cut back hard, meaning within a foot of the ground, it may be as cindersslipper says. There may not be any buds to be liberated at that time, so maybe you'll be okay. Just remember to mulch the crown to protected it from freezing if you can.
^^^Op this is the correct information. Show it to your client. If they insist you cut the rose bush then do it and charge them for it. Write on your bill 'cut a customers request, no warranties expressed'.
Not sure where you live, but I just pruned my Knockout rose bushes way down to about 2', about 3 weeks ago, fertilized and mulched and they are looking so happy now. I live in the south, so we will not get a hard freeze until about January.
The customer wants the bush pruned, so prune the bush.
Leave 2 ft or maybe just a little more and then go back in the spring and cut off whatever has died over the winter. You can cut roses back to just nubs and still get a nice rose bush and it seems like the harder you cut it back, the better it will flower the next year.
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