HelpfulGardener.com

Hi,
I want to cut back my rose plants but they have already started leafing. Is it ok to cut them back anyway? I feel like I waited until this time last year (early spring) but they hadn't developped leaves yet...

It is hard to tell without knowing how big the shrubs are, where are you and your zone. But very likely it is ok. To play it safe, I would not go overboard and prune more than a third or so. Make sure the plants remain well mulched and the soil is moist. Then make a note on a wall calendar, in the month of December, a note saying "add a note to the 2011 calendar to prune roses in the month of "x".