Advice For Overwintering Your Roses

Nature Hills Nursery | February 14, 2026

Most people cover their roses for the winter too early. Wait until your rose plants have been exposed to several killing frosts and some good colder weather to help them go dormant BEFORE covering if winter protection is needed in your area.

All across the midsection of the states, typically the right time is about Thanksgiving time to protect your roses. In the more northern states still time if you have not, and as you move into the more southern areas if winter protection is needed it may be a bit early still.

Hybrid tea, grandiflora, floribunda, and of course all the new shrub rose types can all benefit from some additional mulch added right on the plants about a foot deep.

Wait to prune your roses until late winter or early spring so any winter damage is removed when being pruned. And for roses that bloom on last year’s wood - they don’t get pruned until after the June bloom is done.

Any kind of shredded mulch (bags may still be available near you), or compost works great too. Dump the mulch right where the canes come out of the ground piling it up about a foot thick. It will protect the canes from dying back. The exposed parts will discolor and may die back but those parts get cut off in spring anyway, and the covered portions will remain green and viable.

Many used to use the styrofoam rose cones and many times those plants would rot underneath the cones so if you are using them, be sure to cut the tops off the cones to allow moisture in and out during the winter months.

A pile of mulch is such a simple way to insure winter success in areas that do get cold, and now is the time!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you overwinter rose bushes in cold climates?

To overwinter rose bushes in cold climates, wait until after several killing frosts have hardened the plants before applying protection, which is typically around Thanksgiving across the middle states and sooner in more northern zones. Pile shredded mulch or compost directly at the base of the canes about one foot deep to protect the lower portions from dieback. If you use styrofoam rose cones, cut the tops off to allow airflow and prevent rot underneath. Hold off on pruning until late winter or early spring so you can remove any winter damage at that time.

How do you properly cover roses to protect them from frost and freezing temperatures?

To properly protect roses from winter damage, wait until after several killing frosts have helped the plants go dormant before adding any cover, which in most mid-section states falls around Thanksgiving time. Pile shredded mulch or compost directly at the base where the canes emerge from the ground, building it up to about one foot thick to keep the canes green and viable through winter. If you use styrofoam rose cones, cut the tops off to allow moisture to escape and prevent rot underneath. Hold off on pruning until late winter or early spring so you can remove any winter-damaged wood at that time.

Can roses survive hard freezes if left unprotected?

Some roses, particularly modern shrub rose types, are hardier than others, but hybrid teas, grandifloras, and floribundas are vulnerable to hard freezes and benefit from winter protection in colder regions. In the midsection of the country and further north, unprotected canes are likely to die back significantly or fail to survive the winter entirely. The good news is that a simple foot-deep pile of shredded mulch or compost mounded right at the base of the plant where the canes meet the ground is all you need to protect the most critical portion of the plant. Wait until after several killing frosts, around Thanksgiving in mid-country zones, then mound your mulch and let the roses go into spring with viable, protected canes ready for a strong growing season.

How do you winterize climbing roses versus shrub roses?

Shrub roses and most modern rose types benefit from a foot-deep mound of shredded mulch or compost piled right where the canes emerge from the ground, applied after several killing frosts have encouraged dormancy, typically around Thanksgiving across much of the country. Climbing roses require a bit more effort since their long canes are more exposed, and in colder zones you may need to carefully remove the canes from their support, bundle them loosely, and lay them on the ground before covering with mulch or burlap. For both types, hold off on pruning until late winter or early spring so you can assess winter damage and remove it at that time. Focus on protecting the crown and lower canes now, and let spring reveal what survived before you start cutting.

Should you cut back roses before winter, and how far?

Wait to prune your roses until late winter or early spring rather than cutting them back before winter sets in. Pruning in fall removes wood that actually helps protect the plant, and any winter damage is best assessed and removed once you can see what survived. The exception is roses that bloom on last year's wood, such as certain climbing roses, which should not be pruned until after their June bloom is finished. Focus your fall energy on mounding a foot of mulch at the base of the canes instead, and save your pruners for spring.

How do you protect rose roots from freezing during winter?

To protect rose roots from freezing, wait until after several killing frosts have allowed your roses to go fully dormant before applying winter protection, which in most of the midsection of the country means waiting until around Thanksgiving. Pile shredded mulch or compost directly over the base of the plant where the canes emerge from the ground, building it up to about one foot thick. This insulates the root zone and keeps the buried canes green and viable even if the exposed portions above the mulch die back. Apply your mulch at the right time, avoid covering too early, and plan to prune away any winter damage in late winter or early spring.

Can frost-tolerant roses skip winter protection in mild climates?

In mild climates where hard freezes are rare or absent, frost-tolerant shrub roses and modern hardy varieties can generally skip formal winter protection. However, even in warmer regions, a light 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the plant is a simple precaution that helps regulate soil temperature and retain moisture through cooler months. If you garden in USDA zones 7 and above, focus less on heavy mounding and more on timing your late winter or early spring pruning to remove any cold-damaged canes before new growth begins.

When is it safe to remove winter protection from roses in spring?

Wait until the threat of hard freezes has passed in your area before removing winter mulch from your roses, which typically falls in late winter to early spring depending on your zone. Remove the mulch gradually rather than all at once to allow the plants to adjust. As you pull back the protection, use that opportunity to prune away any winter-damaged canes, cutting back to healthy green wood.

What materials work best for insulating roses against winter cold?

Any kind of shredded mulch or compost works excellently for insulating roses through winter. Pile your chosen material directly where the canes emerge from the ground, building it up about a foot thick to keep the canes green and viable beneath the surface. If you opt for styrofoam rose cones instead, cut the tops off to allow moisture to escape and prevent rotting underneath. For most gardeners in the midsection of the country, aim to apply your mulch around Thanksgiving, after several killing frosts have helped the plants go fully dormant.