You can prune all your trees right now or whenever you feel like it. No need to prune dormant or non-dormant -- it really doesn't matter too much. Anytime from now through July is just fine. I cut all my baby trees back real hard at planting time and in each of two seasons since, and they all turned out fine and better structured because of it. You can delay pruning until leaf-out if you want to know where your dead wood is -- not a bad idea. But if you know of any dead wood, you can cut it out right now. Rule of thumb is to prune no more than 30% of the total wood per year. But if you should decide to prune a little more than that, I wouldn't worry about it and I promise your tree won't die. It will just look a little odd for a year or two or three while it re-establishes itself, that's all. You can do this at any time from the cold of winter through about July. Don't be afraid. Just do it. You and your trees will both be happier for it.

I do a little shaping in most cases. Sometimes I do more then that. Basically for me, if I have to fit a roses to a certain space, I prune it more, if there is plenty of space - I don't prune, just shape after the bloom. Olga

Jody...I prune my 2's just like my 3's the first prune season after they have been planted the year before...I prune both of them down to the 2nd or 3rd leaf axil from the soil...remember your 3's bloom on vines produced that season. Hard Pruning your pruning group 2's like I said will only serve their best interest as they will get a bigger and healthier root system for years to come...then come Spring of 2008 you'll not prune your pruning group 2's except to only remove dead vines and AFTER they bloom to shape or keep in bounds for your 2's bloom twice a season...on old and new vines...as double will give you a single on the new vines and doubles on the old...remember to give them a nice dose of Alfalfa Tea and some 13-13-13 or Rose Pellets when you prune and never fertilize once they set buds...here in my long growing season I reprune my 3's after the first initial bloom period..refertilize and get another possibly 3 bloom periods...have fun..Jeanne

On a stem of any plant, the leaf nodes are the places where the leaves attach to a stem. The axillary buds would be buds present in between where the leaf attaches to the stem and the stem itself. Often the nodes are dormant or not truly obvious until the stem above it is cut and they are called into play. Wait and see and you should gave bud breaks in short order.