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How to Winterize Your Roses for the Most Beautiful Blooms in Spring

Barbara Lee2 min read
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How to Winterize Your Roses for the Most Beautiful Blooms in Spring — Garden & terrace
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How to Care for Your Roses in Winter?

How to Care for Your Roses in Winter?
Remember, the main goal is to protect your roses’ crowns from winter cold damage that can harm their tissues. The last thing you want is to see your roses stay woody and wilted in spring instead of bursting with buds because they didn’t survive the winter. Follow these simple tips to make sure your roses thrive next season!

Don’t Rush Winter Protection!

Don’t Rush Winter Protection!
Timing is key, but here’s good news: a little patience goes a long way with roses. Avoid winter protection until the first hard frost arrives and kills off the remaining leaves. Once your roses have shed all their leaves, remove any dry, diseased, or damaged stems to reduce the risk of disease spreading. It’s also helpful to let your roses experience several nights below -1°C (30°F) to ensure they enter dormancy before covering them for winter.

Pruning

Pruning
Pruning is essential for roses! Except for the base stems, cut back longer branches to about 75 cm (30 inches). This helps keep your bushes sturdy against winter winds. Use clean pruning shears and make angled cuts just above the buds. Angled cuts allow water to run off, lowering the chance of rot.

Watering

Watering
As temperatures drop, you’ll need to water your roses less often, but don’t forget them completely. From mid-November to early March, water at least once a month. Even in dormancy, roses aren’t dead—they still need hydration to stay healthy.

Pests

Pests
After pruning, you might notice more pests like rose beetles. These pests are often larvae of sawflies, bees, or wasps that love fresh cuts on stems. Unfortunately, if they lay eggs there, your rose bushes could be at risk. To protect your precious roses, apply glue or pruning paint to cut ends right after pruning to keep these pesky invaders away.

Photos: istockphoto.com
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