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| Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/Marc Legg |
| Cold-hardy species and variety roses may require limited protection in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 – just mulch the plant and surrounding soil to prevent freeze-thaw cycles that can damage roots. | While some roses can grow just about anywhere, they need some extra care in climates that experience regular winter freezes. Because freezing damages the delicate cells in the foliage, canes and roots, roses need to be insulated from the severe temperatures to keep blooming beautifully season after season. Gardeners living in USDA hardiness zones 6-7, with minimum temperatures between -10 and 10 degrees F, should allow the last blooms of fall to develop into hips and remain on the plants, fortifying the roses for winter. With the first frost, mound loose soil over the bud union and lower canes, then mulch heavily with straw. Cover the mound with burlap and tie it into place to help resist winter winds. If snow persists, mound it over the plant. Avoid pruning in fall – roses need all their canes to provide nutrients and help the plant survive. Gardeners living in zones 1-5, with temperatures that drop below -10 degrees F (and lower), need to take extra measures to help many of their roses survive. A good place to start is by only selecting frost-hardy varieties for your garden. Follow the pictures and captions at the end of this article for specific steps on preparing your roses for the cold season. While helping roses survive a severe winter climate requires extra care, it’s not difficult to do. And when warmer weather returns and you remove the protective insulation, tip your plants upright and watch your roses rebloom, the beauty that springs forth will make all that additional care you took worthwhile.
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