All roses need some attention going into winter. Winter weather in zones 6 and below can really challenge rose bushes, particularly the hybrid teas. Shrub roses are hardier and can pretty much fend for themselves, but the hybrid teas and other modern hybrids are a little fussier. Here are some tips for winter rose survival, starting with zones 6 and below:
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 20 - 40 Minutes Per Rose
Here's How:
- Stop feeding and pruning your roses around the end of August, to discourage tender, new growth that will suffer from winter damage.
- After the first frost, thoroughly water the soil around your rose bush. Once the ground freezes the bush has to take care of itself, so give it a good soaking going into winter.
- Remove all fallen leaves to prevent diseases and insects from overwintering.
- After a couple of hard freezes, mound 6-12 inches of compost around the crown of the plant, to protect the roots and the graft union where the rose species you are growing is attached to a hardy root stock. The graft should be at or just below the soil surface. In a mild winter, you could also circle the rose with wire and stuff this cage with leaves or mulch.
- Climbing roses are at risk from strong, drying winds. To protect the canes of canes of climbers, either wrap the canes together bundling something like straw on the outside for insulation or remove the canes from their trellis or support and lay them on the ground. Then tie the canes together and secure them to the ground with landscape pins. Protect with a layer of mulch.
- Zones 7 & 8 always stand the chance of a freeze and maybe even some snow. The graft union would benefit from protection, but it need not be as heavy as for zones 6 and below. Mounding with leaves or a shredded mulch should suffice.
- The rule about discontinuing pruning at the end of summer holds for zones 7 & 8 too.
- In zone 9 and above, where roses won't be subject to freezing temperatures, watch for fungal diseases that can creep in with the cooler, wet weather.
- Roses are still growing and setting buds in zone 9 on up and November is a good time for a light feeding. Prune after the plants bloom in December.
Tips:
- Don't try to use the soil around the rose bush as mulch. Moving it could expose or disturb the roots.
- Don't forget to remove protective mulch in the spring.
What You Need:
- Mulch or leaves
- Wire cage (Optional)
- String or Twine
- Straw (Optional)
