Protecting Roses in Winter

Where winter temperatures get below 10 degrees F. on a regular basis, many roses will need protection to get them through the cold season in good shape. Even though there are many hardy roses, such as the shrubs, which can survive much lower temperatures without protection, the most popular types of roses, including hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras and even some climbers will need your help.

The best way to protect roses is to mound 12 inches or more of soil over the crown of the plant. The soil will insulate the bud union (the swollen part of the trunk where the flowering variety joins the rootstock), protecting it from drying winds and the coldest temperatures. The canes that remain above the mounded soil can be further protected with a thick mulch of hay, leaves or compost enclosed in a wire cylinder or other structure. Some gardeners prefer to wrap the top of the plant with some type of material such as newspaper or foam insulation, and secure it with string or wire. Many nurseries and mail order rose catalogs also sell Styrofoam or plastic cones useful for protecting roses in winter.

The long canes of climbing roses may need special protection. The surest method is to remove the canes from their support structure and tie them together. Then lay them on the ground and cover them completely with soil or some other insulating material. To make them easier to handle, it may help to lightly prune the canes as you remove them from their supports.

Timing is important.

It's important to apply your winter protection at the right time. It's also important to remove it at the right time. If applied too late in fall or removed too early in spring, there is a very good chance your roses will be damaged by unseasonable cold spells in early fall or late winter.

When fall nights regularly become frosty and the leaves have dropped from your roses, mound soil over the crown, making sure the soil extends at least 12 inches above the bud union. The soil should be lightly moist. If your roses are dry, water them well before mounding the soil.

When the soil mound is completely frozen (this may be a few weeks later), tie the exposed canes together and apply a thick layer of mulch or insulating material as shown in the illustrations above. Again, it may help to lightly prune your roses to make this task easier. But in general, it's best to keep pruning to a minimum at this time of year. If you apply the final layer of insulation too early, it may actually prevent the soil from freezing sufficiently and result in damage to the roots. It isn't necessary to completely cover the upper part of the canes because you'll be pruning them back next spring anyway. But you do want to make sure you have plenty of healthy canes left to choose from.

Once the soil has thawed, you can begin to gently remove the insulation and soil from around your roses. Don't remove it too early or you'll risk damage from a late cold spell. Many rose growers wait until the forsythias bloom to remove their winter protection. This is also a perfect time to apply Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate. One application protects plants from insect pests like aphids, Japanese beetles and thrips for up to 12 months.

Products Mentioned In This Article

Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate