How to Protect Your Roses from Winter Damage (It Starts Now)

roses, especially hybrid tea roses, grandifloraAnd floribunda roseRequires more care than other flowers. After caring for them throughout the spring and summer, it’s tempting to take a more carefree approach to rose care in the fall and winter. However, this can be counterproductive, as proper care is the key to helping you roses survive the winter,

Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do to prepare your roses for cold weather.

caring for roses in autumn

What to do

fall clean up Prevention is very important for pest and disease control, as some pathogens persist in the soil during the winter. thoroughly remove all fallen leaves and stems around the plant, and if they are diseased, throw them in the trash.

mulch roses After the plants have gone completely dormant, which usually occurs after the first hard frost. The amount of mulch depends on the type of roseNative roses and shrub roses need only a 4 to 8-inch layer of mulch around the base, while hybrid teas, grandifloras and floribundas should be buried in mulch so that the graft site is completely protected.

Water Watering should be gradually reduced in autumn as the rose plants approach dormancy, but if it is a dry autumn and there is very little rainfall, you should continue to water them in moderate amounts. Roses in dry soil are more susceptible to cold damage.

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what not to do

stop spoiling your rosesBecause it encourages them to form more flower buds. In the fall, the goal is to slow plant growth.

Stop fertilizing your roses Average six to eight weeks before the first frost date. Fertilizing late in the season produces lots of new soft growth, which is easily damaged by cold.

autumn pruning is generally seen too late In cold climates because injuries caused by hard pruning make plants more susceptible to frost damage. The only exception is if you cut back the rose canes to later create an insulating mound around the plant. Pruning roses in autumn This is of less concern in areas with mild winters.

overwintering roses

Whether roses need protection in winter depends on the climate and the type of rose. In cold climates, you need to take some extra steps hybrid tea roses in winterGrandiflora, and Floribunda roses.

To protect rose canes from harsh winter winds that can dislodge roots, cut the canes back to 2 to 3 feet below the ground after the plant has gone completely dormant.

To protect roses from freezing, use any of these methods:

• Pile about 12 inches of soil over the crown and add mulch or fallen leaves on top.
• Wrap roses in breathable fabric, burlap, or use special rose cones.
• In extremely cold climates, use the “Minnesota tip method”, where the canes are tied into a bundle, then gently tilted to lie in a shallow trench and covered with soil for the winter. After the ground freezes, you can add a layer of straw for additional insulation. In the spring, when the weather is warm, take the roses out of their trenches.

6 tips for caring for roses all year round

• water rose Every seven to 10 days in hot, dry weather. Shrub and native roses are more drought-tolerant than hybrid tea roses and other garden roses. apply water Directly into the soil around the plant.
• fertilize roses Use natural or synthetic fertilizers regularly from spring through summer and follow label directions for quantity and frequency. Scatter the fertilizer around the base, but keep it 6 inches away from the canes.
• Monitor for pests and diseases Early detection and treatment of problems. roses are sensitive to many problemsInvolved black spotPowdery mildew, rust, rose mosaic virus, rose rosette virus, Japanese beetles, aphids, and rose slugs.
• deadhead withered flowers To encourage additional flowering during the growing and flowering season.
• pull weeds While they are still small. If using a tool, be careful not to damage the shallow roots.
• wet grass To conserve soil moisture and control weeds. Apply a 2 to 4-inch layer of wood chips, shredded bark or other natural mulch around the base.