PUTTING YOUR ROSES TO BED FOR THE WINTER

Welcome to the World of Rose Gardening or Rose Gardening World.  Take time and smell the roses.  Roses have been around for millions of years which just prove that roses are not difficult to grow. The Rose is also our National Floral Emblem and the state flower of several states.  Here at Rose Gardening World, you’ll find rose articles that will educate you about roses – its history, rose culture, rose profiles and even rose verses all in one place.  So visit Rose Gardening World often. 

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we can certainly say winter is coming soon if not here already.  If you haven’t tucked your roses to bed, now it’s prime time to start protecting your roses for the winter.

Don't prune your roses at this time, unless there is a concern that canes and branches could be broken when loaded with snow.  Heavy pruning should be done in spring.  The only thing you have to do is cut those very long stem so they don’t whip in the wind which causes the heaving of soil around the rose bush exposing the root system.

Before you put your hose away for the winter, give your rose a good soaking.  Do not let your roses go to bed thirsty.  

Apply a dormant spray such as lime sulfur and/or spray oil. This will kill pests and fungal diseases that might try to overwinter on the plant or surrounding soil.  Rake leaves from around your plants to prevent the spread of diseases.

Protection is usually not necessary, but roses can benefit from applying mulch over the crown area if a cold winter is forecasted.  Cover the bud union with a mound of soil about 6" high, then cover the plants and mound with straw. In areas where winter temperatures are below 10°F., remove any stakes on tree roses and gently dig away soil on one side. Bend your tree rose downward to the ground and cover it with straw first, then soil.  For climbers, cover the base of your climbers with soil. Tie the canes and wrap them in burlap. For severe-winter areas, anchor the canes to the ground and cover them with straw.

While you are making the final inspection, check which roses did not do well.  Decide on whether to give it another chance or shovel prune it.  Then it is time to browse through those catalogs and order the rose plants for next spring.

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