Save the Roses





Tips to Winterizing Roses
- Mulch around the root system to protect the bud union. You can use mulch or garden soil and pile it up around the bush several inches thick. Do this after the first hard frost. Know your anticipated first-frost date for your zone (or find yours here). You can even put a tomato cage over the rose bush and stuff it full of straw or dry leaves, then wrap it with burlap.
- Tie back long canes and climbers to prevent "wind rock" – although you may want to wait until the ground begins to freeze first. Pull the canes back as close together as possible, without pulling them hard enough to damage them, then tie them gently together. Use a strip of soft fabric (a narrow strip of fleece or a strip torn from a worn-out sheet), or your local nursery might carry rolls of self-gripping tape. This helps by giving you a more compact bush to protect from the harm of winter injury.
- Do not prune or fertilize roses in fall. You do not want to encourage new growth this time of year, which would suffer from winter weather exposure. Instead, save these tasks for spring when things warm up and get ready to grow – it's a better use of your time and effort and your roses will appreciate it!
- Container plants can be moved inside to an unheated shed, basement, or garage after they lose their leaves. After their leaves drop, a little water should be given monthly to prevent drying out – enough to reach all of the roots.

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