Winterizing Your Roses With Confidence

Winterizing Your Roses With Confidence
By James Z Stroud

Winterizing Roses

If you have roses in your garden, what do they need to get through the winter?

Basically, nothing.

Don't cut them back and no need to cover them if they are winter hardy in your region. Prune only in spring because any exposed wound on a rose cane will be damaged by the wind, snow, or freezing rain. In the past if I really had to prune a cane or two I would apply a little vaseline to the pruning site, just for extra protection.

Here are a couple of steps you can follow just to make sure your roses stay nice and healthy through the harsh winter months.

1. Put a couple of shovelful of compost over the roots of the rose plant.
2. Non-nitrogen fertilizer is great for this time of year. Late fall is the best time to give your rose a dose of Epsom salts (about 1/2 cup per plant), rock phosphate and a little potassium. These fertilizers will not encourage new growth on the canes, which could be hurt by the wind or frost. Instead, they promote root growth that can continue into December if the ground is mulched.
3. A well hydrated plant can survive winter better than one that is dry and stressed so water during dry months of the winter.

And that's it for winterizing roses. If you're not sure if your roses are able to take on the winter, then mound soil or compost about 6 inches over the base for extra protection.

Winterizing Roses In Low Climate Areas

If you live in Zone 5 or colder be prepared to give your roses complete protection.

Two Options:

1. Dig a trench beside the rose. Cut the rose back to two feet tall. Dig up half of the rose' roots on the opposite side and gently tip the rose into the trench. Completely cover the rose and its roots with about 6 inches of soil and water. Then cover the tops of them with mulch or compose for extra protection. This technique has works well, but you can't be guaranteed.

2. Cover the circumference of the rose with chicken wire. Cover the base of the rose with 8 inches of fresh mulch. Then start packing leaves down the chicken wire until the rose is completely covered. This is pretty easy to do and works on lots of roses but it not guaranteed.

It is always good practice to contact your local rose society members for advice on preparing roses for winter in your area.

In summary, if your roses are in the 6 or higher zone climate there is not much you have to do to protect them from winter. If your roses are in zone 5 or lower you'll need to give them complete protection.

For more information on roses please visit http://www.growbeautifulroses.com

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