Winterizing Your Roses is a must . . .

. . . if you want them to keep growing and blooming year after year. To winterize roses is easy.  If you do as suggested, you should have no problem saving your beloved roses from dying during those bitterly cold, harsh winter days.

Winterizing Your Roses

© Sara Nightingale

To me, flower gardening is at its best when roses are blooming.  Yes, roses are so beautiful, but they do require special care to help them through harsh cold winters.

There are two main reasons we should winterize rose plants:
1) We are protecting the plant from dying
2) We are protecting the canes from damage

First, you must steer clear of fertilizing during the winter because if you try to encourage new growth in the winter, it will only make your roses more accessible to dying from freeze burn.

Second, you should stay away from the white plastic cones when doing your winter protection because they shut in too much heat during the winter thaw.

To winterize your rose bushes you will need to start by cutting your bushes back.  Most will recommend three feet up from the ground.  Small limbs should be removed, leaving 3 to 5 of the most vigorous canes.  All remaining leaves need to be removed.

After doing this you need to bring in extra soil or you can use mulch such as wood chips, sawdust, shredded hardwood or pine bark, instead of the soil.  This should be mounded 15 to 18 inches high.  This will provide the extra heat needed in the winter without overheating your plant later in the season.

To winterize your climbers, remove them from the lattes or whatever their support may be.  Dig a trench on one side of the plant.  Loosen the soil around the plant and tip it into the trench and cover it with the soil from the trench.  If this is not possible, gather the tips together, tie them, and wrap in straw.  The base should be covered with at least 10 inches of soil.

If you live in an extremely cold climate you may want to think about planting some of these breeds of roses, which are very hardy when it comes to harsh winters. These are just a few:

*Rugosas    *Griffith Buck   *Modern roses   *Centrifolias   *Species Roses    *Gallica    *Alba    *Shrub Roses

Remember: Do not winterize until the ground is frozen or you have had at least two good freezes.  Until then, happy flower gardening.

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About the Author
Sara Nightingale is an avid gardener who specializes in helping newcomers to rose gardening, simplify the rose gardening process, and begin enjoying a beautiful rose garden. Visit the Garden Stop at http://www.roses.thegardenstop.com/

Source:http://www.goarticles.com