Winterizing Roses

[Wanda P]

 is amazing that, even though we’re headed towarddd

rosebud for indoor enjoymel,
but there’s no reason why a rose garden can’t look good in winter.

Winterizing roses is important, not only from an appearance standpoint, but also for their
survival should we have a severe cold outflow. Floribundas, Hybrid Teas
and Grandifloras are all treated in much the same manner at this time
of year. Using a sharp, clean pair of hand shears, cut all the stems
back to approximately 2½ to 3 feet in height. Make all your cuts on an
angle to prevent water from seeping into the stems. Next, take out any
obvious dead wood, which often is an ideal overwinter hideout for both
insects and disease. It might also be a good idea to use a little
pruning paint wherever you make a cut to prevent borers from getting
inside. I would also pick off all the leaves, especially the disease
infected ones and rake up any old decomposed material around the base
of the plants. When this is all finished, your roses will actually look
quite smart.

Climbing roses should be pruned quite differently. Choose four or five of the youngest and best
canes, and prune them back to about six to eight feet. Tie the canes to
a trellis or arbour to prevent winter winds from thrashing them about.
Cut out everything else, and mulch the bud union generously.

Even though your roses look dormant for the winter, their roots are still developing. To protect
the bud union, cover their base well with a 12 inch layer of bark mulch
or good garden compost. This protective covering will ensure the
survival of your roses even during our coldest weather.

I fully understand how inconvenient it is to go out and spray at this time of year, but I
guarantee you will solve many of your insect and disease problems if
you apply a combination spray of dormant oil and lime sulphur. The
first and most important spraying should be done in mid-November,
followed by another application at the end of December and again at the
end of January. This is an organic spray, and it will leave the stems
of your roses clean, shiny and healthy looking.

Once all the winterizing is done, you may wish to spice up your rose garden by planting winter
violas and pansies around them. Let’s face it, as beautiful as they are
in spring, thorny branches in winter don’t exactly create an inspiring
winter display. You might also want to plant early, mid-season and late
daffodils among your roses. In April and May, the bronze new growth on
your roses will provide a spectacular background for the brilliant
yellow of the daffodils. This is a classic combination and one which
will last up to six weeks. When the daffodil leaves are finished and
looking poorly, the growing foliage of the roses will hide those spent
leaves.

If you are planting or moving roses, use well-drained soil with plenty of compost material and
bone meal. Make certain the bud union is just below ground level, and if
you cover this union with a 12 inch layer of mulch, there will be
absolutely no danger of losing them in cold weather. A little smart
winterizing now will not only protect your roses but will also keep
them healthy and clean for a new beginning next spring.

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