Winter Care for Roses

The beautiful rose, all of its hundred plus species coming in a variety of colors, belongs to the genus Rosa, from the family Rosaceae. Roses are grown world over, and as they have always found special favor with many gardeners and rose enthusiasts, new types of roses are being developed, that are pest and climate hardy. This perennial plant, with bright green colored leaves and red colored trimmings along its edges, bears flowers that come in different sizes, and can be single or doubled petaled. Their stems are covered with sharp prickles (thorns). To ensure a healthy, true blossom, winter care for roses is a must.

How to Care for Roses

Before one starts caring for roses in winter, it is important to know how to care for roses in any season. Roses can be grown in any season as trailers, or as shrubs and bushes. Water and fertilize them well, when you see the first flower buds sprouting. If you seek large sized flowers, pinch off a few bud per stem. Roses are not very fussy, but the rose, just like any other plant, requires care from winter's harsh wind and hardening of the soil. The rose plant has its own mechanism to insulate or harden itself against cold winds and the cycle of freezing and thawing, and extended periods of below freezing temperatures. Plants are made of cells, and these cells are full of fluid during their growing period. With a fall in temperature, the cell walls begin to thicken. This mechanism is exhibited through purpling of the rose stems. However, basic winter care for roses will protect the rose bushes from further damage.

Winter Care of Roses

The first thing one needs to do is to stop fertilizing approximately six weeks before the first frost. As fertilizers promote growth, they will not allow the rose bush to get into its dormancy period, damaging its growth cycle. Remove all deadheads (spent flowers), prune away all the dead and lanky stalks and all mature hips as well. Watering is another factor that needs consideration. Cut back on watering frequency, but do not stop watering completely, else the harsh winter wind will dry out the plant. This is an important tip for winter care for roses.

Mulching, or mounding or hilling the soil are two ways to manage fluctuations in the temperature. You can select from a variety of types of mulch available; leaf mold, wood or bark chips, peat moss, weed free straw, etc. Before you start mulching around the rose plant, give it time to acclimatize to the fall in temperature. Depending upon the zone you reside in, start mulching between October to November, or when the temperature falls below twenty-five degrees (whichever is earlier). An early application will not allow the rose plant to develop winter hardiness, whereas with a late application, valuable soil heat will be lost as the soil will get covered by snow. Pile the mulch around the rose bush to minimum one foot. Read more on tips for mulching.

Hilling or mounding involves the use of soil to insulate the crown and canes. Mound soil over the crown, bud union and lower stems, to a minimum depth of 8-12 inches. This hilling process will also provide warmth to the roots. Mounding or hilling should be timed to give the rose bush enough time to acclimatize to cold temperatures. If one is not able to understand how much soil should be used, use market ready frost cloth or burlap. Secure burlap around the canes and union bud with a string and fill in some straw. Read more on:

• Growing Roses
• Rose Plant Care

Remove all mulch and soil (never scrape), around the plant when you notice new sprouts shoot from the canes. Water and fertilize the rose plant well. Taking good winter care for roses will ensure that your blooms will outdo all others!