Winterizing Your Roses

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Robert J. Dolezal

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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.

Facts

The best rose choices for cold-weather climates are those that grow on their own rootstock since grafted bud unions are vulnerable to damage from freezing.

Tips

Protect container roses from the cold by bringing them indoors. Keep them dormant, just as they’d be outside.
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Faqs

Q: When should I prune my winterized roses?
0A: Annual pruning should be done when roses are dormant. In mild-winter climates, prune in fall once the plant loses its leaves. In cold-winter climates, prune in early spring, always before spring growth begins. Remove all dead canes and any less than 3⁄8 of an inch in diameter.
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Q: What are rose caps or rose cones?
A: These are plastic cones you can purchase at garden centers to put over your rose plants to help insulate them from winter’s cold.

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You may live with harsh winters, but you don’t have to give roses the cold shoulder. Rose breeders are working with Mother Nature to create cold-tolerant (and beautiful) selections that can survive those wintery winters. (But it’s still up to you to help protect them!)
The Care and Coddling of Roses
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Did Your Roses Get Zapped?
Don’t let the freaky spring freeze get you – or your roses – down! While you may not see those beautiful blooms as early as you’d like, roses are hardy growers that will make a glorious comeback with the proper care.

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