What To Do With Rose Bushes After The First Frost To Protect Them From Winter Damage

The cold isn't for everyone, or everything, and that's even true in the garden. But when it comes to most varieties of roses, they tolerate the colder months pretty well if properly protected from extreme temperatures and conditions. You may already be aware that there are fall tasks you can do to protect rose bushes — like stopping the fertilizing process early enough so that residual fertilizer isn't still encouraging growth as plants enter dormancy. But as most gardeners know, the list doesn't stop there. As the months creep by, and temperatures drop, you also need to know how to prepare your garden for winter — particularly when the first frost hits. While a few types of roses, like some "old garden" or "knock out" rose bushes may not need any cold weather protection, most other varieties need some preparation when heading into their winter hibernation.

Winterizing rose bushes should be done when the plant is already dormant, typically after Thanksgiving but by early December, when you are certain new growth has stopped for the season. In fact, some online blogs suggest waiting for two hard freezes to ensure that your plant is fully dormant before winterizing. But once you have established that your rose bush is done sprouting new growth, it's time to get it nice and cozy for the winter months.

The best way to start the protection process is with a thoughtful pruning. Removing diseased and dead branches is crucial for your plant's health.Then it's important to clean up the area around your plants roots, making sure to remove fallen leaves and debris. Allowing this type of stuff to freeze near your rose bush can be an invitation for pests, diseases like black spot, and other issues from overwintering to impact the health of your flowers. A tidy crown and clean soil surface help ensure your rose heads into dormancy protected and healthy.

Like anything that can feel impacts of the cold, it's important to provide insulation for your rose bush to help protect the roots from cycles of freezing and thawing. Your next step should be to form a mound of soil or loam covered by mulch around the base of the plant, making sure it's about 10 to 12 inches high and 18 inches wide. Mulch made of bark, wood chips, or aged sawdust are great options for good insulation. You also want to make sure that your rose bush is headed into winter well-watered and the soil stays moist. Winter may be cold, but it is also typically dry, so you want to keep an eye on the soil throughout January and February. Once you've made it through the winter and helped your rose garden thrive, you can begin removing its protection a few weeks before the growing season begins again.