|
|
|
|
More on Winterizing Roses We’re still getting questions about rose care in the winter, so here’s more about winterizing: 1) How do you know the ground is frozen? Frozen ground is nearly impossible to dig in to--harder than dry clay. Try digging in the North side of your garden. Gardens have warm spots, so there are places that never really freeze, but most of us have frozen ground in most places. 2) Is it cold enough to mulch? Yes. 3) I still have visible new growth--should I cut that back? No. Pruning stimulates growth, even in dormant plants. 4) Which roses should be mulched? Any grafted rose should be mulched--this includes Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, and Grandifloras, unless you specifically purchased “own root” versions of those varieties. Any first year planting of any rose variety should be mulched. 5) How do I winterize my rose tree? If it’s in a container, bring it inside for the winter. If it’s planted in the ground, check to see if it’s a grafted rose. If it’s grafted, it shouldn’t be in the ground--it should be in a container. If it’s in the ground anyway, the graft, which is up high instead of ground level, is very vulnerable. In colder areas, grafted rose trees are bent over to the soil level and mulched there. Proceed at your own risk. 6) How much mulch? Where should I put the mulch? First, clean out the area around the base of the rose bush. Discard debris. Pile 3-4 inches of mulch loosely around base of the shrub--do not compress. If the bush is in a cold location, you can loosely cover the bud union, but be sure to pull it off as soon as Spring shows up. Don’t pile mulch up against the trunk of the bush unless you really expect it to be at risk for freezing. Younger plants need more protection than established plants. 7) Should I water? Yes. Wait for a sunny, 40 degree day, or warmer, and water deeply, at ground level. 8) What should I use as mulch? Bark, straw, tree chips, potting soil, grass clippings, compost, leaves, a mix of any of the above, or all of the above.
Back to Rose Care This page last modified: December 22, 2003 |
|
|
