Now’s the Time to Put the Roses to Bed
The process of preparing roses for winter includes pruning, a thorough clean-up, deep-root watering, then mulching each plant. Roses vary in hardiness, but all roses will benefit from some attention and preparation before winter arrives. This is because our winter temperatures can fluctuate widely, and moisture levels will vary from month to month. Begin by cutting each cane back about to about 24" to 30". This is not an exact measurement, but it’s important to cut tall canes now to prevent damage from winter winds. Prune to the outward bud, so that future growth is toward the outside, away from the center of the bush. If you see any diseased branches and leaves, cut them off and dispose of them. Remove any spent flowers or rose hips at this time. Clean up fallen leaves, petals, and debris from around the rose bush. Any existing mulch should be cleaned up as well. A thorough cleanup will help ...