1. Winterizing roses is a must for this section of Oklahoma. Winter protection is used to basically stabilize the soil
temperatures around the plants in order to minimize the damage that dry winds cause and from the damage of alternate
freezing and thawing.
2. Probably the most used method of winter protection is the hilling of roses with an eight to ten inch mound of soil
covering the bud union. The soil used for mounding should be from another location and not scraped up from around the
bush, because using the soil from around the bush will expose delicate roots to the harshness of winter. In the spring this
soil should be removed from the rose bed. If compost is available, it is very good to use instead of soil and it can be left in
the bed and worked into it.
3. Another method of winter protection is constructing wire containers around the bush, then filling with oak leaves.
Oak leaves are generally available, they do not become soggy and will allow air to enter. Some Rosarians will cover the bud
union with soil and then finish filling the container with leaves, hay, straw or other material.
4. Newspaper collars around the bush is another method of winterizing. The collars are simple to make. Take four
complete sheets of newspaper, lay them down fully open - just as you would to read the paper-fold once top to bottom,
staple three times, each end and the center. For most bushes you will need two of these, and even if you don’t, the overlap
will be that much more protection. Lay one on top of another, staple three times along the edges and fold back. Staple
again, and you have a nice long collar which will go around even the huskiest bush. Strip the foliage up a little higher than
the height of the collar. Tie the plant with baling twine to prevent whipping in the wind and to make collaring easier and
staple the collar in place. Make sure the fold is at the top of the collar to prevent rain and snow from funning in. Fill to the
desired height (8” to 10”), top off with oak leaves if they are handy. Believe it or not, these collars will outlast the nastiest
winter. They are impervious to rain, snow, wind, hail and other weather-related catastrophes.
5. When to apply the winter protection? Timing is important. Covering the rose too early may prevent the rose from
hardening properly and will slow the onset of dormancy. Covering the rose too late may risk damage from the cold. A few
cold snaps without protection will not hurt the roses but will help them into dormancy.
6. Winter protection should be applied when the roses are dormant. It is not
possible to give a date as to when this will happen because it will vary from place to place and even from year to year in
the same place.
7. If you have had a problem with blackspot, plan to use a dormant spray, such as lime-sulfur a couple of times this
winter.
8. Be sure to keep the roses moist during the winter if adequate rainfall does not come.
9. Prepare new beds for the new varieties of roses you may want that will be coming out in 2008. Order early in order
to get your first picks.
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