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Cut the dead or diseased stalk back to the base of the plant. Cut damaged stalks below the damaged part to leave the foliage to feed the plant. Prune the stalks back to the base of the plant in late fall when the lilies have stopped blooming and the foliage is dying off. Pruning shears.
In general, you will be pruning just before the plant breaks dormancy after spring's final frost. This will be early in the year in warm climates, and anytime between January and April in cold climates. If it's old roses you are tending, prune them after blooming. They bear flowers on last year's wood. Cut away the dead wood first -- it will help you see the shape of the plant without distraction. It's a good idea to visit a public rose garden and find specimens of roses you are growing.