Winterizing Roses: Prep Your Bushes for Cold

Getting your Roses ready for the long cold winter may seem as daunting as getting a fussy toddler ready for bed to a Rose gardener! Don’t fret, because today’s modern Roses are much easier to care for and with just a bit of planning, your Roses will slumber throughout the winter like a baby, emerging in spring with an explosion of refreshing growth!

Gardeners in cold climates and those in warmer zones, both have to contend with a range of concerns their gardens must endure each winter. From drying winds, moisture and humidity, cold and fluctuating temperatures.

Timing it Right

It’s a good idea to protect the crown of the Rose and its roots from the impending winter’s chills. However, most people cover their Roses too early. In the rush to beat the cold (to keep themselves warm more so than their plants) they accidentally trap moisture, green leaves and potential molds, fungi and disease in with their shrubs to struggle with all winter long. This also wreaks havoc on your plants during the fickle autumn months that waver between freezing and thawing.

Wait until your Rose plants have been exposed to several killing frost and consistently cold temperatures to help them completely go dormant before covering, and only if winter protection is needed in your Hardiness Zone.

Depending on your climate, typically the right time is around Thanksgiving to think about protecting your Rose bush, but Mother Nature dictates exactly when with her fickle nature. One warm and extended fall and you’ll find rotting or diseased Roses awaiting you in spring!

In the more southern states, if winter protection is needed, then you’ll want to wait until much later in the season before wintering your Roses over. You may only need to provide the crown mulch and protection from cold, drying winds. In the warmest parts of the country, only attention moisture access is needed.

Moisture Access

Water the soil at the root zone on a weekly basis throughout the autumn, as long as the ground is not frozen and there hasn’t been at least an inch of rain or snow. Saturate the soil around the Rose completely, avoiding getting excess moisture on the stems and crown. Once temperatures remain consistently freezing and your ground is frozen, or has sufficient snow cover, you’ll not need to water until the spring thaw. Read more about Winter Watering Here.

To hold moisture in the soil around the roots of your Rose, or any other plant for that matter, apply a 3-4” layer of Mulch at any time throughout the growing season. When autumn arrives, before frost, apply up to 4-6 inches more for the winter. This mulch also helps insulate the root zone from the chill.

Winter Rose Care

Freezing and drying out are the two biggest issues facing Roses throughout the winter. Covering the crown loosely with mulch or leaves is the best way to prevent cold damage to your Rose, especially in colder climates. Warm and humid climates, less is more to prevent mold and fungus from infecting your plant.

The easiest method to protect your Rose is by piling leaves and/or compost over the crown. Clean out the interior of any debris or old Rose leaves to prevent harboring excess moisture, fungus and disease, then cover with dry, clean, loose organic matter. Depending on the size of your Bush, mounded soil and mulch over the base to about 10 - 12 inches.

The loose clean and dry material can include:

Soil
Compost
Mulch
Shredded leaves
Straw
Peat moss
Bark chips

For taller or larger Roses, tie the canes together gently. Then either use a Rose cone or Rose collar or, create one by driving a couple of stakes into either side of your Rose (avoiding the roots) and attaching a cylindrical ring of tar paper, burlap or chicken wire that encircles the shrubs’ lower half. Keep the tops of your Rose uncovered. This can then be filled with your insulation of choice.

If using a styrofoam Rose cone, cut off the top to allow moisture and air circulation.

Bush Style Roses

Shrub or Landscape, Rugosa, Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora, Floribunda, Miniature and groundcover Rose types, all benefit from some additional mulch as noted above. Any kind of shredded mulch or compost works great. This protects the canes from blackening and dying back over the winter.

Climbing Roses

If your Climbing Roses are growing in a fairly protected area out of harsh winds and extreme temperatures, wrapping with burlap or evergreen boughs will give sufficient winter protection.

Secure canes to their supports (it’s easier now that you can see them without their leaves
Wrap the canes in burlap if extra winter protection is needed and gently tie with twine. Or use the chicken wire cage method filled with loose, dry material.
Mound 10”-12” of mulch and/or soil around the base of the plant.

Disease Prevention

If disease and fungus are issues in your area, it is a good idea to choose Roses that have natural or built-in disease resistance.

Wait to cover until they are completely dormant
Choose a dry day to cover them
Water only at the root zone

Optional sprays are available for your Rose canes. Use a fungicide or disease-preventing dormant oil spray solution of 1/3 cup baking soda to 1-gallon of water.

Pruning and Fertilizing

You should avoid pruning your Roses until very early spring before you see new growth that year. Only remove broken and damaged limbs at the time of winterizing.

When Do I Prune My Roses?

Fertilizer too should be completely avoided after midsummer to allow new growth to ‘harden off’ before winter and to prevent your Rose from being overly encouraged to produce new growth that will just die as soon as the cold weather arrives.

Deer Prevention

Deer when they’re very desperate will even nibble on the ends of Roses where there are fewer thorns, but unfortunately even the most thorny Roses can receive a bit of tip damage when the deer are especially hungry. Try spraying your plants with a repellent and reapply after heavy rain or snow throughout the winter.

Tips & Tricks for Deer Prevention

Happy Roses

With just a bit of planning and timing, you’ll enjoy an entire romantic Rose garden or keep that one Rose bush happy and healthy for years to come! No more Rose tantrums from you or your garden when it’s time to be put to bed!

Head over to NatureHills.com for more to help you get your garden winter-ready! Then check out our Garden Blog to learn about Un-Wintering Your Roses in spring to help your garden wake up on the right side of the bed!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I winterize roses in cold climates?

Winterizing roses in cold climates requires patience and proper timing. Wait until your roses have experienced several killing frosts and are fully dormant, typically around Thanksgiving, before adding winter protection. Water deeply at the root zone weekly through autumn as long as the ground is not frozen and rainfall has been less than an inch. Once dormant, protect the crown with mulch and shield plants from cold, drying winds to help them emerge strong in spring.

How cold of temperatures can roses tolerate before they die back?

Roses vary widely in their cold hardiness depending on the variety, but most modern shrub roses can tolerate temperatures down to 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit before experiencing significant dieback, while hardy varieties bred for northern climates can survive temperatures as low as minus 30 to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Hybrid teas and more tender varieties typically struggle once temperatures drop below 20 degrees and often require winter protection in zones 5 and colder. The key is allowing your roses to fully harden off through several killing frosts before providing any protection, which usually happens around Thanksgiving in most northern climates. Check the cold hardiness rating for your specific rose variety and match it to your USDA Hardiness Zone to determine how much winter protection, if any, your plants will need.

Do roses need to be covered before the first frost?

No, roses do not need to be covered before the first frost. In fact, covering them too early traps moisture, green leaves, and potential mold or disease against the plant, which can cause serious problems over winter. Wait until your roses have experienced several killing frosts and consistently cold temperatures to ensure they are fully dormant, typically around Thanksgiving in most climates. Only then should you apply crown protection, and only if winter protection is necessary for your hardiness zone.

How do I protect rose bushes from freezing temperatures?

To protect rose bushes from freezing temperatures, wait until after several killing frosts and consistently cold temperatures have passed before applying any winter protection, typically around Thanksgiving depending on your climate. Covering roses too early traps moisture and disease against the plant, causing more harm than good. Mound mulch around the crown of the plant to insulate the roots, and in warmer southern zones you may only need crown mulch and a windbreak to get through winter successfully. Continue watering deeply at the root zone on a weekly basis through autumn as long as the ground remains unfrozen and rainfall is less than one inch per week.

Can roses survive winter without any protection?

Many modern roses are quite resilient and can survive winter without protection, particularly in milder climates where temperatures do not drop to extreme lows. In warmer southern zones, roses may only need a layer of crown mulch and some shielding from cold, drying winds, while in the warmest regions, simply monitoring soil moisture is sufficient. In colder hardiness zones, however, leaving roses completely unprotected risks damage to the crown and root system. Know your USDA Hardiness Zone and check with your local extension office to determine whether your specific rose varieties need added winter protection before the season sets in.

Which types of roses are the most cold hardy?

Some of the most cold hardy roses include the Parkland and Explorer series bred in Canada, which can survive winters in Zone 3 and Zone 4 without protection. Shrub roses and rugosa roses are also well known for their exceptional cold hardiness, often thriving in zones 3 through 5 with minimal care. If you garden in a cold climate, look for roses specifically labeled as hardy to your USDA Hardiness Zone and prioritize these naturally tough varieties to reduce the need for extensive winter protection.

When should I start getting my roses ready for winter?

Wait until your roses have experienced several killing frosts and consistently cold temperatures before taking any protective action, as covering them too early can trap moisture and encourage mold, fungi, and disease. For most gardeners, Thanksgiving is a reasonable benchmark to begin thinking about winter protection, though Mother Nature will ultimately dictate the exact timing. Gardeners in southern states should wait even later in the season, while those in the warmest zones may only need to monitor soil moisture. Watch your local forecast for a stretch of consistently freezing temperatures, and let that be your signal to act.

What happens to roses if you do not prepare them for winter?

Roses that are left unprotected through winter can suffer from desiccation caused by cold drying winds, crown and root damage from hard freezes, and increased vulnerability to disease, mold, and fungi. Covering them too early traps moisture and green leaves, which can cause rot and fungal problems that persist through spring. Wait until after several killing frosts and consistently cold temperatures, typically around Thanksgiving in most zones, before applying winter protection. Water the root zone weekly through autumn until the ground freezes, and apply crown mulch to protect against temperature fluctuations and cold winds.

How do I protect climbing roses during winter?

Climbing roses require special attention since their long canes are more exposed to winter winds and cold than shrub roses. After several killing frosts have hardened the plant, loosely bundle the canes together and wrap them in burlap or surround them with a cylinder of hardware cloth filled with straw for insulation, typically around Thanksgiving in most zones. Mound 10 to 12 inches of soil or mulch around the crown to protect the graft union. Make sure the canes are secured but not so tightly wrapped that moisture becomes trapped, which can lead to disease over winter.

Should I mulch around my roses before winter sets in?

Yes, mulching around your roses before winter is recommended, but timing is critical. Wait until after several killing frosts have caused your roses to go fully dormant, typically around Thanksgiving in most regions, before applying mulch to the crown and root zone. Applying mulch too early can trap moisture, green foliage, and potential mold or disease against the plant during unpredictable autumn freeze-thaw cycles. When the time is right, apply a generous layer of mulch around the base to protect the crown and retain soil moisture through the cold months ahead.

#ProPlantTips for Care - Getting Roses Ready for Winter