Earthly Garden

Now is the time to prepare your roses for the coming winter. While some varieties are quite hardy, most need a little help in order to survive the harsh winters prevalent in many parts of the country. Here’s a quick guide on what to do.

First, stop feeding them. With the cool weather approaching you don’t want to encourage new growth, which will not survive. This is also the time to stop deadheading. Let the plant produce rosehips. This tells the plant it’s time to slow down and begin preparing for dormancy, and will also provide food for birds over the winter. Once the hips have formed you can remove the spent blooms.

You’ll also want to stop pruning, as this too encourages new growth. After the first hard frost, water thoroughly. Remove all fallen leaves and twigs and cover the base of the plant up to the crown with a thick layer of mulch. Avoid using leaves as mulch as they rot when wet and encourage fungal disease. They also provide a haven for insects. Try bark, wood chips, or straw. To protect the canes of climbing roses from cold dry winds, remove them from their support, tie them together, and secure to the ground. Cover with a layer of mulch. Don’t try and use the soil from around your plants as mulch as you risk damaging the roots. For non-climbers, carefully tie the canes together with twine or use a wire cage to support them. This will minimize possible breakage due to heavy snow or ice.

Once your roses are fully dormant move any remaining foliage and check the canes. Remove any that appear diseased, and trim back the remaining ones to about 24 inches. Replace the layer of mulch as needed (it may wash away in severe weather). After the first hard freeze, give your roses a dose of Epsom salts, which will promote root growth, Just work into the soil at the base of the plant.

In early spring remove the mulch and untie the canes, preferably before the new buds begin to swell. Put climbers back on their supports and feed only after they begin showing new growth. You should find your TLC rewarded with profuse blooms and healthy, happy plants!

roses, gardening, rose care, preparing roses for winter, mulching