Winter protection is often necessary for most types of garden roses. The extent of protection depends on the type of rose and its location in the garden. Choose only types hardy enough to survive the coldest average winter temperatures in your growing zone.
When you protect roses for the winter, remember that the main goal is to keep the plant, especially the crown and lower part of the canes, cold all through the winter. Plant tissues freeze and thaw, which can cause damage. As rose gardeners, our goal is to keep this from happening as much as possible.
If you prune bush roses too much in the fall, you might lose the whole plant if it gets really cold this winter. You can expect new growth and healthy canes in the spring if you leave 18 to 24 inches of healthy canes under the mulch. But it’s best to cut back very long stems so they don’t flap around in the winter winds and possibly loosen the soil mound around the rose crown. For tea roses, it’s best to cut them back less in the fall and more in the spring.
Climbing roses add gorgeous vertical interest to gardens, fences, arbors, and more Their long, flexible canes can be trained to climb structures or allowed to ramble attractively Come winter, these showy roses need a bit of protection to survive cold temperatures and emerge healthy in spring. Learning how to properly winterize climbing roses will reward you with vigorous new growth when warmer weather returns.
Why Winter Protection is Crucial
Climbing roses are not as inherently hardy as some other types of roses. Their tall growth makes them more vulnerable to harsh winter conditions. Drying winds can damage tender canes. Rapid temperature drops and extreme cold may injure or kill exposed roots and stems. Ice heavy wet snow and other weather can cause canes to break or split. Due to their growth habits, climbing roses need a little extra care to make it through winter unscathed.
When to Winterize Climbing Roses
It’s best to prepare climbing roses for winter after several hard frosts but before consistent below-freezing temperatures settle in. This gives plants time to acclimate to colder conditions before getting full protection. Late fall or early winter is ideal timing in most regions. Depending on your local climate, you’ll want to winterize climbing roses anywhere from late October through early December.
Winterizing Steps for Climbing Rose Canes
Follow these important steps to properly winterize the canes of climbing roses
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Trim back long canes to 6-8 feet tall to prevent wind damage. Remove small, spindly canes entirely.
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Unfasten canes from supports and loosely tie them together to prevent rubbing, winding, and breakage. Use soft twine or cloth plant ties.
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In very cold regions, layer the entire plant on the ground and cover with 6 inches of bark mulch or soil for insulation.
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Alternatively, lay just the bottom 2 feet of canes on the ground, keeping tips propped against a fence or trellis. Cover with mulch.
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Cover the crown with a rose collar, commercial climber protector, or mound of soil.
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In mild winter areas, fasten canes back to their support after pruning. No need to lay canes down.
Providing Protection for the Root Zone
Climbing rose roots also need shielding from dramatic temperature changes and cold penetration in winter. Here are some options:
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Mound 6-8 inches of loose mulch over the base of the plant to insulate soil. Leave the crown uncovered.
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Wrap a rodent-proof hardware cloth cage around the base and fill with leaves or straw.
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Cover the bed with a thick layer of pine needles or evergreen boughs.
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Erect a commercial rose protector tube around the shrub and fill with mulch.
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Sprinkle soil amendment like compost over root zone to add nutrients and organic material before mulching.
Additional Winter Care Tips
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Avoid fertilizing climbing roses in fall to prevent tender new growth that is vulnerable to cold damage.
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Water roses thoroughly before ground freezes if soil is dry. This prevents desiccation damage.
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Check winter protections periodically and replace or refresh as needed after wind or heavy snow.
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Prune back any dieback in early spring once you uncover the roses. Remove all winter protection at that time.
Enjoy Healthy, Vigorous Roses After Winterizing
While climbing roses demand some seasonal maintenance, taking steps to properly winterize them each year encourages new growth and beautiful blooms come spring. A bit of fall preparation allows gardeners in even very cold climates to enjoy gorgeous climbing rose displays. Protecting the crown, canes, and roots from winter extremes results in healthy, hardy roses that quickly return to their glory after winter passes.
Hybrid Tea and Floribunda Roses
Avoid applying winter protection until hard frosts have killed any remaining leaves. When the leaves fall, be extra careful to get rid of any diseased or damaged stems or leaves so that the disease doesn’t spread. Before you protect rose plants, you might want to let them have a few nights with temperatures in the mid-teens to make sure they go to sleep. After this period, use any of the following procedures to protect hybrid tea and floribunda roses.
- Cut back strong canes that could get damaged by winter winds. Cut the plant 1/4″ above a bud that points outward so that new growth will begin in the right direction.
- Tie the canes together with twine.
- Pile up 10 to 12 inches of soil around the plant’s base. You should add more soil, but don’t rake it up from the plant’s base.
Make pruning cuts 1/4″ above an outward pointing bud Credit: R. Trexler
Tarpaper or Wire Mesh Collars
- Only prune to make the plant the right size for its winter cover.
- Tie the canes together with twine.
- Heavy tarpaper or hardware cloth (found at hardware stores) can be used to make a collar. Fold the edges together to make a cylinder.
- Cover the plant with the collar and fill it with coarse mulch like peat moss, pine bark, shredded leaves, or straw.
- Once the collar is full, tie burlap over the top to keep the mulch in place.
- Pile up 10 to 12 inches of dirt around the base of the collar.
Credit: R. Trexler
- There is no need to prune, but you should get rid of any canes that are rubbing against each other and any that are growing in toward the middle of the bush.
- Tie the canes together with twine.
- Bind with evergreen boughs and burlap.
- Mound soil to a depth of 6”-8” around the base.
Credit: R. Trexler
Roses that climb should be pruned in the middle of summer, after they have stopped blooming and all of their flowers have faded. Prune all the flowering canes close to the roots so that new growth will harden off by winter. Climbing roses will still need protection from winter injury. Depending on where the roses are located, either of the following procedures can be used:
If your roses are growing in a fairly protected spot away from strong winds and extreme temperatures, wrapping them in burlap or evergreen boughs will keep them safe through the winter.
- To keep canes in place after the first hard frost of the fall, cut off the long ends.
- Next, tie the canes together with twine after wrapping them in burlap, straw, or evergreen boughs.
- Mound 10”-12” of soil around the base of the plant.
The best way to protect a climbing rose in places that get very cold or are open and often get damaged by winter is to cover the whole plant with earth.
- Take the plant off its support after the first hard frost of the fall and tie its canes together.
- To keep them from breaking, bend the canes to the ground and arch them close to the base of the plant.
- Crossed stakes are used to hold the canes down and heel them in.
- Put some dirt on top of the plant and drive a stake into the ground at each corner to mark the spot.
Updated: November 2016
Pruning Climbing Roses! ✂️ // Garden Answer
FAQ
Should I cut back climbing roses for winter?
Can I cut my climbing rose to the ground?
Can climbing roses survive a freeze?
Should I cut down my roses before winter?
How do you protect climbing roses from winter weather?
Canes of taller or climbing roses can be loosely tied together using twine or fabric strips to prevent damage from winter winds. The canes of climbing roses can also be laid on the ground and covered with approximately 6 inches of garden soil to protect them for the winter.
Do climbing roses need winter protection?
The canes of climbing roses can also be laid on the ground and covered with approximately 6 inches of garden soil to protect them for the winter. Winter protection should be gradually removed beginning in late March or early April when new growth begins. Take care not to injure new growth.
How do you winterize roses that climb up a trellis?
There are several different approaches when it comes to how to winterize roses that climb up a wall or trellis. ‘Some people tie the canes together, mound soil over the crown of the plant to protect the graft (if a grafted plant), and wrap the canes in straw and burlap,’ explains Melinda. ‘While other gardeners, opt for the Minnesota Tip method.
How do you keep Roses from overwintering?
Clear away fallen leaves and debris to eliminate hiding spots for pests and prevent diseases from overwintering. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of your roses to regulate soil temperatures and protect the roots. Consider additional protection, such as rose cones or burlap wraps, for areas prone to severe winter conditions.