How to Protect Climbing Roses Over the Winter

Protect climbing roses from winter damage.

Climbing roses produce vine-like growth that is easily trained to climb up trellises and arbors. Most rose types, from tea roses to grandiflora, have climbing varieties. These roses produce flowers on the prior year's new growth, but because the plants aren't compact the canes are prone to winter injury that results in poor blooming. Some climbing rose varieties, such as Old Garden Roses and Canadian Explorer hybrids, are less susceptible to cold damage, but some precautions against freezing must still be taken.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Prune out any dead or damaged canes. Cut these from the plant at the juncture between the nearest healthy cane and the damaged one. Use sharp, clean pruning shears and make each cut as cleanly as possible.

2. Place a mound of mulch, such as leaves or straw, over the base of the rose plant in late fall after the first frost. Make the mulch mound approximately 8 inches tall. The mulch helps prevent temperature fluctuations that cause cane breakage and damage.

3. Water the climbing roses once monthly throughout winter when the ground is not frozen. Water at the base of the plant in early morning so the water has time to absorb into the soil before temperatures drop at night.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a rose collar, available from garden centers, to hold the mulch in place around the base of the plant.

• Climbing roses do not require severe pruning in fall like other rose varieties.

• Remove the mulch as soon as temperatures begin to warm in spring and the rose begins actively growing again. Remove the mulch gradually over a two to three week period.

References

• Colorado State Extension: Climbing Roses
• Oregon State University Extension: Roses