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IF you live in USDA zone 6 or colder there are certain steps that need to be taken to ensure that your roses survive the winter.
Those of us that live in the colder climates have to take a few extra steps to make sure our roses make it through the winter and will be ready to come to life in the spring.
Most hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras are grown as grafted plants. That is, the rose plant is grafted onto a hardy root stock. The large knob or graft is known as the bud union. This has to be protected from freezing.
Just as a side note, many tags or packages that roses come in tell you to plant the bud union level with the soil. In our colder climates, zone 6 and colder plant the union 2-3 inches below the soil surface.
The first step in preparing our rose beds for the cold is to do a complete cleanup.
This means to remove all debris from the beds. Fallen leaves, broken canes and anything else that doesn’t belong there needs to be removed.By doing this you will ensure that fungal or bacterial spores will not over winter and attack our plants in the spring.I find that using a shop-vac makes this task much easier.
After there has been a couple of hard freezes strip off all remaining leaves and discard.
This is the time when a dormant spray needs to be applied to the canes and the soil around your plants. The usual combat ion of this spray is to use a mixture of Lime-sulfur and dormant oil. These are natural substances than will kill and insects and spores that might be present on your roses
You can mix the ingredients together yourself or premixed sprays are available. Follow the instructions on the container and wear appropriate protective clothing and eye gear as should be done when any spraying is being done.
Make sure the temperature is above 40 degrees F when applying this product.
If you talk to many different rosarians you will get many different methods as how to protect your roses from the cold.
I’m going to share a couple of the ones that I have had success with. Protection should be placed after a couplre of hard freezes.
Tie the longer canes together with garden twine to prevent them from whipping around in the wind. I like to take several thickness of newspapers fold in half lengthwise and place them around the base of the plant. Staple the ends together to form a collar.
Fill the collar with shredded leaves, compost or garden soil.
Many folks like to use rose cones as their winter protection. If you choose this method cut the top out of the cone. This allows air circulation and prevents condensation on sunny days. If the plant is too large for the cone, prune it back just enough so that it will fit. Place bricks or rocks around the base to keep it from blowing over in the wind.
I grow several roses in large containers 25 gallon or larger. I have found that moving them into the garage and watering them once a month works really well.
In the spring after the danger of freezing weather has passed, remove the winter protection and give them a good watering. When the forsythia blooms it’s time to prune them and apply the rose fertilizer.
About Paul Rodman
Paul Rodman has been gardening for over 40 years. He is an Advanced Master Gardener, and American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian. He is currently president of the Western Wayne County Master Gardener Association in Wayne County, Michigan.
Rodman is the garden columnist for The News Herald newspaper, in Southgate, Michigan. He has also written for the OrganicGardening.com web site.
He has lectured on various gardening topics throughout southeastern Michigan.
His favorite pastime is teaching children about gardening. For the past several years he has conducted classes for second grade students teaching them about subjects ranging from vermi-composting to propagation.
Posted by rosa18 (from Bartlett, IL) on November 8, 2007 at 11:24 AM:
Thanks for the advise. I am in Zone5a and never had heard of the lime sulfer spray. I had a hard time finding it. Finally found lime sulfur spray oil by bonide. Had to online order it as the nurseries around my area did not carry it. Plan to clean and spray this weekend.
Jill
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Subject: Minis
Posted by Kassia (from Framingham, MA) on November 5, 2007 at 10:51 AM:
Hi Paul,
Can you do the same for mini roses??? I have several planted next to hyb teas and several in pots...
lol... and some I can't just let them be outside for the winter... I would miss them too much... pathetic I know....
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on November 5, 2007 at 2:12 PM:
I would bury the pots and mulch with shredded leaves.
Paul
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Posted by Kassia (from Framingham, MA) on November 5, 2007 at 2:23 PM:
ok, that's what I had in mind too... I have tons of pine needles and I can use that too right???
Thanks so much!
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on November 5, 2007 at 3:27 PM:
That will work great.
Paul
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Posted by Kassia (from Framingham, MA) on November 5, 2007 at 3:29 PM:
Thanks so much! I apreciate...
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Subject: Knockout Roses
Posted by newmanvs (from Atlanta, GA) on November 5, 2007 at 10:18 AM:
Thank you so much for the advice on roses. Is the winterizing process the same for Knockout Roses?
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Posted by csbullen (from Mountain View, OK) on November 5, 2007 at 1:21 PM:
Thanks for these winterizing techniques. I need to know if I do the same with climbing roses and how far to cut them back?
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on November 5, 2007 at 2:11 PM:
I would do the same with the knockouts depending how severe your winters are.
Yes, do the same with climbers.
Paul
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Subject: Excellent Advice!
Posted by Candyce (from The Monadnock Region, NH) on October 30, 2007 at 8:24 AM:
For the novice rose-grower, and lover, this is invaluable information!
Thanks a million, Paul.
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Posted by JaxFlaGardener (from Jacksonville, FL) on October 30, 2007 at 9:26 AM:
Thanks, Paul, for an informative article. I'm wondering if the oil spray/lime-sulfur would also be helpful in warm climates as a treatment in the Fall or early Spring? Our problem in NE Florida with roses is not getting them through the winter, but getting them through the heat and humidity of summer. They seem to bloom best here around March-April and at this time of year. I finally put most all my roses together in one long bed so that I can give them the specialized care they need. They seem to be much happier now!
Jeremy
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Posted by bbrogan1 (from Amma, WV) on October 30, 2007 at 12:53 PM:
Paul,
Thanks so much for the article. I am new to growing roses and this info is invaluable. I do have another question. I live in central WV with a very large population of deer. Earlier in the fall, the locals came through and stripped all the leaves off most of my roses. Subsequently, new leaves and growth appeared. What, if anything should I do. We have had frost twice this week with daytime temps in the 60's.
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on October 30, 2007 at 3:22 PM:
How about for roses that aren't grafted? I have 2 climbers/ramblers in big containers (non-mobile containers) that I don't baby as much as I should. They are in kind of a protected location, though. I used to have four! Now I have 2.5 - one is starting to come back. Although they've to made it unprotected through two New England winters so far, will they benefit from further protection this coming winter?
Thanks for a helpful and very clear article.
x, Carrie
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on October 30, 2007 at 3:45 PM:
I move my roses that are in containers into the garage.
I use a hand truck to move them.
Water well once a month during the winter.
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Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on October 30, 2007 at 4:15 PM:
I'm afraid the container would fall apart. Thanks, though.
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Posted by ladylin (from La Salle, MI) on November 1, 2007 at 9:54 AM:
Thanks, Paul. Living in Michigan and being new to growing roses, this is a big help!!
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Posted by CapeCodGardener (from Mid-Cape, MA) on November 5, 2007 at 9:12 AM:
Hi Paul--excellent article. I have three young rosa bonica plants in 3 gall containers. Would it be better to keep containers of this smaller size in the unheated garage, or dig holes outside and sink them into the holes (while protecting them with the newspaper "collars")?
Thanks again.
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Posted by Kassia (from Framingham, MA) on November 5, 2007 at 10:48 AM:
Thanks Paul... this is my first year growing roses and yesterday I started the big clean up...
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Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on November 5, 2007 at 2:10 PM:
Cape Cod
I would sink the pots in the ground and mulch heavily with shredded leaves.
paul
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Posted by CapeCodGardener (from Mid-Cape, MA) on November 5, 2007 at 10:25 PM:
