"leggy" roses?
Answers:
When pruning roses, you can do them at any time of the year. For best results, you want to prune out the interior branches first (this will help create more air circulation and prevent fungal diseases like black spot). Ideally, unless the rose is trained on an espeliar or on a trellis (say with climbing roses) the rose should be conical, or like a bowl.
For best results, prune the branches at the node of the leaf branches or stems (where a two branches meet, or where a leaf meets the stem) approx. 1/4" up from the node.
It sounds like your rose bush needs fertilizer. Find a good all-purpose fertilizer that is higher in the middle number (phosphorous). Also, use organic fertilizers like bone meal, dried blood, and espom salts to increase the micronutrients in the soil. These will be applied around the base of the shrub and worked into the soil with a small rake.
Roses are people-sensitive, the more attention you give to them, the more they will respond. That's not scientifically proven, but it seems to be true.
Other answers:
if they look brown at the base, it is safe to prune them, the green ones are the ones you want too keep, but wait until fall to prune them or the whole bush will die.
if they look brown at the base, it is safe to prune them, the green ones are the ones you want too keep, but wait until fall to prune them or the whole bush will die.
First look for signs of black spot. There will be yellowing leaves with black spots. If they are there remove all the leaves with the fungus that are yellow and pick up those on the ground. Throw them away in the trash. Next mix one part water to one part skim milk and spray the roses. This should stop that problem. Next, to get better bushier roses in the fall after the first frost cut them back to about 12 inches from the ground and mulch heavily around the base. In the spring they should then send out several new shoots from the base. I would suggest you look up a botanical gardening site on the Internet to help you with further pruning advice to match any other conditions. It also appears they are in need of fertilizer. You can buy one at your garden or hardware center and apply it as directed. Roses need alot of water in dry summer months.
I've grown great roses for years. Trust Rosie's advise below. NEVER prune during the growing season. You can kill your roses that way.