Winter Care for Rose Bushes

Healthy roses survive the winter if properly protected.

Roses can suffer injury during the winter from temperature fluctuations, freezing and winds. Healthy roses are less likely to be affected by winter than roses that suffered from disease or pest problems during the growing season, especially if those problems cause the rose bush to lose its leaves. The graft union near the bottom of the plant must also be protected during the winter. The graft union is a scar near the bottom of the stem of the plant where the flowering plant was grafted to the rootstock of another plant to create the current cultivar.

Things You'll Need

• Soil or compost
• Garden shears
• Ribbon or tree ties
• Shovel
• Wire pins or notched stakes
• Mouse bait

Instructions

1. Mulch the rose bushes with compost or soil after the first hard frost. Mound the soil or compost at least 3 inches above the graft union. The compost or extra soil helps the roots warm during the winter season and protects the graft union from cold temperatures.

2. Cut the canes down to 4 feet in height. Loosely tie several canes together with ribbon or tree ties to protect the rose bush from wind damage. The wind could break the canes or could pull the roots out of the ground if the canes are not tied. In the spring, untie the canes and remove the soil or compost from the graft union.

3. Dig (carefully) under one side of tree roses and then tip the tree rose on its side, during the fall. Cover the plant with soil. Once several weeks after the last hard freeze have passed, uncover the tree rose and stand it upright.

4. Lay the canes of climbing roses on the ground. Anchor the canes to the ground with wire pins or notched stakes. Cover the entire climbing rose with at least 6 inches of compost. Once spring arrives, uncover and unstake the roses.

Tips & Warnings

• Use soil from another part of the garden, so that you do not inadvertently injure the roots of the rose bush. Do not use clay or other heavy soil, as these soils retain moisture.

• Distribute mouse bait around the rose bushes to help keep mice from burrowing into the bushes.

• Do not cut the canes shorter than 4 feet, else you could risk damaging the plant.

• Do not mulch before the first heavy frost, as mice might "invade" the rose bushes.

• When working with tree roses, be sure not to break all the root connections.

References

• "The Nebline;" Winter Rose Care; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; October 2001