How to Prepare Your Roses For Winter

[@oksalbright]

Thank you for this video. I inherited rose bushes when we moved into our house and and but one are still blooming and the dormant one has one tall stalk and I have been researching and reading and was still confused and scared if killing these beautiful plants. I know what I will be doing on Black Friday. I also have bearded irises and red spider lilies that need to be thinned out and 3 Asian pear trees that need to be pruned. 😂🥰

[@judypenner7458]

I have had roses bloom in December before but you can’t go wrong mulching them around Thanksgiving. Just follow my instructions and your roses will be fine.

[@beaniecool]

This was sooooooo helpful! Thank you!

[@emilysoule8277]

Will these steps be enough in a zone 4b? What about preserving climbing rose canes? I’d love your advice! I’ve been struggling to keep my roses alive over winter. I’ve ordered some new beauties this year from David Austin, and I’d love to keep them alive! They are zoned for 4, but I didn’t have luck with the ones I tried last year.

[@judypenner7458]

Emily, Yes these steps will work in Zone 4 b. I have a video on climbing roses so if you check that out it should help with your climbers. If you have questions just ask and I will try to help. Remember when planting roses it is best to make the hole 18"x 18" deep and wide. I also use a product called Mushroom Stuff ( you can buy this on Amazon) . I apply Mushroom Stuff at planting time.

[@judypenner7458]

Climbers should be mulched at the base of the rose. Then you should tie them to the structure they are growing on . You can also cover them with straw and then wrap them in burlap, this is a challenging job but if your area has a lot of ice and thawing and freezing it can protect the canes from damage. I do not cut the climbers back since some climbers/ramblers bloom on second year wood. If you do not have a structure to tie the climbers to just wrap the canes together so they do not blow around in the wind. I hope this helps.

[@jjsmovies1]

Thanks Judy

[@Rachel40-x7d]

Also would u do this after UT rained or wait till it dryes?

[@judypenner7458]

@@Rachel40-x7d you can winterize when it’s wet or dry. Remembering if we have a dry winter you should water the roses deeply 1or 2 times per month.

[@emilysoule8277]

Excellent! Will do!!

[@judypenner7458]

@@emilysoule8277 great!

[@rachelmartin3574]

How would you suggest adjusting the seasonal prep timing for colder climates (our gardens are roughly a zone 4, with some microclimate adjustments in pockets of up to zone 6)?

[@JP-bd6wj]

Your first freeze dates are September 21 to October 7. I would think Mid October to the end of October. If you have a rose society close by or municipal rose garden contact them for more information.

[@rachelmartin3574]

@@JP-bd6wj thank you! I've not yet found them, though the local extension service is often helpful though in this they were slightly less so. Thank you for your help!!

[@lisaartwork2015]

Im in Vermont and that would be zone 3 and 4. Could I use sawdust for mulch the rose to help it through the hardy winter we have? Or will that harm the base of the rose?

[@judypenner7458]

I have found compost or soil to be the best mulches. I used wood mulches for decades and then switched to compost. my roses were healthier with the compost. I found the wood mulch took nutrients away from the roses.

[@fieldsong]

Thank you so much. In March in zone 6a should I remove the compost mulch from the winterized roses? Or do I just leave it?

[@JP-bd6wj]

Wait to remove mulch until freezing temperatures are gone. I do pull the compost away from the base of the rose but I don’t remove it from the bed I just work it into the soil.

[@fieldsong]

@@JP-bd6wj Thank you so much for explaining this to me 🙏🙏🙏

[@doniellestenson3502]

That indeed is the benefit of compost As well as a haven for earthworms. Whose castings and aeration. Are unsurpassed in creating rich nourishing soil.

[@Jimmy-wd5nk]

Do you use wood glue on your rose canes in th spring when you prune?

[@judypenner7458]

Yes I use wood glue in the spring. This is a critical step to keep your roses healthy.

[@Jimmy-wd5nk]

@JUDY PENNER Thanks. After I asked this question, I found and watched your spring rose pruning video. Have a good day.

[@frankletizia7835]

Do you same on a rose tree ?

[@roselyman7138]

What type of gloves did you use to pull the leaves off the roses?

[@JP-bd6wj]

Any leather glove works.

[@roselyman7138]

@@JP-bd6wj JP- Bought mushroom compost and the fungicide to spray on the earth around roses. Lovely weekend promised by weatherman in Canada 🇨🇦. Thank you for you informative video and advice therein growing to this novice rose gardener! ❤️

[@donnasullivan5309]

I have rocks/ gravel, help cause I can’t put mulch

[@JP-bd6wj]

Donna you could put chicken wire around your roses and fill it with leaves from your yard . Make sure the wire is two to three feet tall. Anchor the chicken wire with landscape pins. You can find the pins on Amazon or a local garden center. I saw this being done in Minnesota 20 years ago with great success!

[@0010-n8q]

Phardon?.. just the introduction needs subtitles to understand what you just said

[@jjsmovies1]

How do you prepare climbers for Winter? I know at the ground it's just like the other roses. But, what about the stems that are blowing in the wind?

[@davehancock7305]

Nice video. I came here to ask this question as well. I have in my notes from somewhere to cut climbers just to fence height (if they're along a fence) to prevent wind breakage, then tie canes together and wrap in burlap. I've never actually done any of that, however. I'd guess the process is still the same: reduce height, remove dead parts, clean up, & insulate.

[@jjsmovies1]

@@davehancock7305 Thanks for the info!

[@davehancock7305]

@@jjsmovies1 You are welcome, but I'm not an expert. Curious to hear how Judy approaches climbing roses @}--->---

[@karenhyland5018]

@@jjsmovies1 My two rose bushes are in a bed of medium sized river rock. What do you recommend as a way to fertilize them in preparation of winter and then spring care.

[@jjsmovies1]

@@karenhyland5018 You should email Judy

[@rainbow4x4]

I planted 2rose bushes this year(first time rose grower) in memory of my mother who loved roses. I have taken notes and will follow through keeping fingers🤞crossed they make it through our Wyoming winter. Thank you

[@JP-bd6wj]

They will do well. If you have a local rose society check with them for regional advice. 😊

[@0010-n8q]

They’re as tough as old boots.. nothing to worry about.. love from London England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@ljolin5764]

Great video. I like how you explain each step of the process and why to do it. Wood glue! I never would have thought of that. I'm going to follow your instructions and I hope that my roses have a safe, restful winter. Thank you!

[@judypenner7458]

Thanks for watching!

[@guag9591]

We are in zone 6a and have a single plant in container, how to follow these steps to protect the plant in winter? Thank you in advance!

[@nicolehansen5985]

What kind of fungicide to you spray with? And at what point do you apply that in the process? Thanks?

[@davidhill1220]

This was very very helpful You covered so much Thank you! Patricia

[@JP-bd6wj]

I’m glad my video helped!

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

I want to take some cutting of my roses this winter too😊

[@HomesteadHomie_]

New to gardening and this video was so informative. Thank you so much!! My roses will be safe this winter because of you!! 🌹🌹🌹

[@JP-bd6wj]

I’m glad I could help

[@ssjjaa4]

What if we don’t want our roses that tall? What height should we make our winter cuts?

[@judypenner7458]

Sara the winter cut is mostly to keep the canes from whipping in the wind and cleaning up the rose bed. You can do a shorter cut in the spring. In zone 6 occasionally we have severe winters and the canes turn black leaving only the canes under the mulch pile with life. I will do a spring pruning video next year in the spring. Spring pruning is the best time to control the height of your roses. Hope this helps.

[@EuroTravChannel]

What a wonderful and useful class! Respects!

[@judypenner7458]

I am glad it was. helpful. Thank you.

[@daniel51404]

What if my roses are in 25 gallon containers?

[@vicmurai1033]

Judy, would neem oil spray applied to the soil act as a fungucide? Thanks. Enjoyed your excellent video.

[@judypenner7458]

Yes.

[@shanne6625]

Is the wood glue you spoke of regular carpenter’s glue?

[@judypenner7458]

The bottles of glue that I use are labeled wood glue.

[@rickolson6826]

My roses are in a zero scape scene. I believe there's black plastic under a rock bed. I'm not sure how too incorporate fertilizer and I don't really want a mulch over my decorative rocks. Any suggestions on fertilizing or winterizing?

[@JP-bd6wj]

For winterizing your roses I would put chicken wire around your rose and fill it with leaves. You can use any type of tree leaves . Fertilizing your roses is a bit more challenging. I would pull back the rock and cut the plastic to get to the soil. If you use a liquid fertilizer you can cut a smaller opening since you can pour the liquid into the ground and water it in. If you use a granular food cut a larger opening and use a cultivating tool to work the food into the soil. Hope this helps.

[@rickolson6826]

@@JP-bd6wj Thank you! I deadheaded the roses and found some black spot and cut that out. They really responded well. I'm hooked! ❤️🌹🙏

[@laurap1647]

Thank you for your helpful video. I have been having to cover up my rose with chicken wire every spring, here in MN because of the deer. So having to fill them with leaves for the winter will be easy for me😉. Thank you for your helpful suggestion .

[@judypenner7458]

Glad to help.

[@rebeccabloomer8235]

Given the height of your compost mulch, do you have any issues with collar rot?

[@judypenner7458]

Rebecca in my 37 years of growing roses I have not had a problem with collar rot.

[@rebeccabloomer8235]

@@judypenner7458 Thank you. I live in Australia in an area with quite a bit of humidity. Do you think that would change things?

[@TeresaMendoza1000]

Hello. I'm in zone 9-10. We've already been blow 30 at night. I have a rose bush that seems to be doing well. It even has new rose buds coming out. I have it in a Potter next to a brick wall. The roots ha e penetrated the bottom. I don't want to try and mess with it until the spring because I'm afraid I'll kill it. Do I still need to trim it down for the winter?

[@fieldsong]

Thank you! We are in zone 6a and plan to follow these steps. In our zone is there anything we should do differently?

[@JP-bd6wj]

You can follow the same steps I do without any change.

[@fieldsong]

@@JP-bd6wj Thank you so much for explaining this to me.

[@ramjeeagrifast7014]

Nice information

[@judypenner7458]

So nice of you

[@lazarusdouvos]

i thought roses a left until early spring to prune??

[@judypenner7458]

Pruning the tall canes in the fall reduces the damage harsh winds can cause during the winter.

[@lazarusdouvos]

ok thanks judy. so in early spring you reduce the bush by prunning lower than the 24inches? @@judypenner7458

[@anti-inflammatoryfoodsbyjo148]

Thanks for the simple instructions i was pruning of the dead branches and leaves.

[@judypenner7458]

You are welcome!

[@emylytle7149]

Can I still do the pruning in winter? I have a bad growing roses cuz I pruned them badly. Thanks for this video, I learn something today. 👩‍🌾😊👍👍 so I can’t use the leaf molds or any dry leaves I collected from my neighbors or is it ok to use it as mulch?

[@JP-bd6wj]

Yes you can still cut back your roses. Tall canes blowing in the wind you can cause damage to the roots of the rose. You can use leaves as a mulch but the leaves work best if you put chicken wire around the bush and fill it with leaves so they don’t blow away.

[@melizmatea]

You totally confused me with the yard stick. "I prune so that the base of my rose to the top of my prune is 24". So when you make a cut, you're going to be at 24" " What does that mean?! That the highest you allow it to remain is 2 ft? Because the cuts you proceeded to make were not at 24', they were way lower. I'm sorry, I don't mean to criticize, but you didn't explain that very well.Could you please clarify? thanks!

[@judypenner7458]

Melisma Tea make your cut 24” (2ft.) from the base of the rose. Hope this helps.🌹

[@ronnym1977]

I live in Southern California. We are blessed with a very mild climate. Freezing is rare in the area I live. When do I prune my roses way way back for new growth? The canes are too big.

[@judypenner7458]

Ronny, Everything I have read about Southern California says to prune in February. You may want to consult your local rose society. I was at the L.A. Rose Garden a few years ago and their roses looked like trees, very tall and thick canes. I would think you could prune back to two feet and leave 5 good canes and have some fantastic roses. You are lucky to have a long blooming and growing season!

[@vicmurai1033]

Hi Judy. what grow zone do you live in. I notice that your roses are are about 5 to 6 feet high. I live in grow zone 3 with winters regularly reaching -40 to -50 Celsius, Canadian Prairies. I have never seen roses in our area grow as high as healthy as what you have. Thanks for sharing your rose care ideas.

[@judypenner7458]

I am in zone 6.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

May I ask where you purchased your Felco 2 pruner from? I looked on Amazon, and a few reviews said their's were knock off's, but other's seemed well satisfied. Thanks, John

[@JP-bd6wj]

John I purchased mine from A. M. Leonard horticultural tool and supply company. They also have replacement parts for the felco pruner.

[@STOPHACKING..]

Your beautiful roses are amazing tall, do deers eats your roses very often? They keeps eating my roses look terribly.. but I do use deers and rabbits spray

[@JP-bd6wj]

The deer don’t eat my roses since I’m in the city but the rabbits do so fences are the best defense for rabbits.

[@larawalker4737]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom @judypenner7458! I'm in TN, zone 7a. We have had our first freeze and I am embarrassingly late on preparing my roses for the winter. I'm a newbie... no excuse but my learning curve. It's 12/3 today. Do I still prune and prepare my roses as you've instructed or since it's winter, is there something else I need to do? Also, I have a rose tree, it's doing well right now. How shall I prepare that particular rose? Sorry for all the questions . I would appreciate any advice . Thank you for your time. Have a blessed day.

[@judypenner7458]

Don’t worry you can still prune your roses and mulch them. With only one freeze you can mulch anytime this coming week. If the tree rose is in a pot it should be moved to an unheated garage. And watered every other week or as needed. You don’t want them to dry out or get overwatered so just keep an eye on them and check the soil with your hand every other week. If the tree rose is planted in the ground you can dig a trench and bury it a foot below ground level. Hope this helps.

[@larawalker4737]

@@judypenner7458 WOW!! Thank you so much! I really appreciate your wealth of knowledge.

[@ritaespana8187]

Do you apply the same trimming to the bushes that have flowers and are still blooming

[@JP-bd6wj]

Yes I do.

[@fieldsong]

Thank you so much! Is it bad if the thorns get damaged when I remove the leaves?

[@JP-bd6wj]

If the leaves don’t pull off easily and are damaging the thorns or the cane I would suggest cutting off the leaves with a scissors .

[@fieldsong]

@@JP-bd6wj Thank you for explaining this to me

[@karenmcneill3745]

Very informative thanks.I like your hat,can you tell me where to find one.

[@JP-bd6wj]

If you look on Amazon under women’s pith helmet you can find one.😊

[@sarag1158]

This is the best video I've ever seen on pruning roses. I have been doing this wrong my entire life. 😂

[@judypenner7458]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hannahadlergontard7057]

Nice teaching! Thank you so much!

[@edmcadory7226]

awesome thank yoiu so much

[@theamazingmg6947]

Hello I am new here

[@christinaelam7949]

What if I have them in a pot how do I prepare for winter

[@christinaelam7949]

And bring them in the house

[@CliffordAllison]

What zone are you in? Trying to figure out if the Thanksgiving days are right for zone 7

[@JP-bd6wj]

We are in zone 6. October 31st thru Thanksgiving will work. I like to get some cold into the ground. If temps are in the 50’s that is too warm for winter mulching.

[@isaacpoytress9594]

And what do you do about Japanese beetle infestation

[@judypenner7458]

I primarily pick off the Japanese Beetles and put them in baggies or a dish of soapy water. I apply Merit into the rose beds soil, in May to kill some of the grubs. I do not spray for Japanese Beetles. The spray doesn't have long lasting control and it is also bad for the beneficial insects.

[@CliffordAllison]

Great Video ! What kind of alcohol do you spray on the pruners?

[@JP-bd6wj]

Clifford thank you. I use rubbing alcohol and I put it in a small spray bottle.

[@VassilkaMorrison-pd7ip]

Very helpful 😊

[@marcelleguidos6682]

What a lot of great advice! Thank you !

[@disneygrannytrish8617]

Ty for this helpful information!

[@judypenner7458]

Glad it was helpful!

[@angiekapis4577]

. I winterized my roses with cow manure and i bin told it’s wrong. thank you for the great video !!!

[@JP-bd6wj]

Have you used cow manure before to winterize your roses? Also it is important to only use aged manure.

[@angiekapis4577]

always used aged manure. Thank you🙏🙏

[@JP-bd6wj]

@@angiekapis4577 if you have always used it and it has worked keep using it. 😊

[@sarmishthabanerjee1057]

This video is very helpful. Just wanted to know which kind of compost do you apply for mulch.

[@JP-bd6wj]

Sarmishtha I use a compost from Missouri Organic in the Midwest but you can buy compost in bags from most garden centers /nurseries or look for a bulk compost company in your area if you have a lot of roses. Hope this helps and I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Let me know if you would like to see videos on other plants or specific topics on roses.🌹

[@sarmishthabanerjee1057]

Thank you!❤️

[@randalllaue4042]

Don’t forget to protect graft...

[@owenfreiburger]

Thanks for the information.

[@judypenner7458]

You are welcome. Please let me know if there are other videos on roses you would like to see.

[@kesangsonam966]

Temperature in my place is 4 degree Celsius is it okay to keep outside?

[@JP-bd6wj]

Yes if your rose is planted in the ground you should mulch your roses like the video and your roses will be fine. Be sure to keep the mulch on the base of the rose until all freezing temperatures are no longer happening in the spring. If your rose is in a pot put it in your garage and water once a moth.

[@kesangsonam966]

@@JP-bd6wj 🙏🙏

[@arliefor-real9749]

😊

[@roselyman7138]

I live in Canada is this method something I should consider for our cold winters?

[@judypenner7458]

I would think this would work but you should talk with local rose society /growers. I also think you might need to cover your roses earlier then Missouri. I have relatives in Canada and they grow hardy roses like the Explorer series and Morden series and they do not cover them. I hope this helps.

[@roselyman7138]

@@judypenner7458 Thank you Judy. I also have a John Cabot climbing rose. Should I wait until spring to prune it back?

[@JP-bd6wj]

Rose yes wait to prune until spring. The John Cabot rose is so pretty! I grew it as a small climber in my garden.

[@roselyman7138]

@@JP-bd6wj thank you, l’ll wait to do that.

[@vickieunrue1342]

What kind of compost for zone 8/9?

[@judypenner7458]

Vickie I would check with your local municipal rose garden or contact the American Rose Society website for advice on roses in your area. The site should also have a list of Consulting Rosarians for your area and that would be helpful to find a local source of compost.

[@jessicageorge9136]

What a wonderful video! Thank you for all of this information❤️

[@JP-bd6wj]

I’m glad you liked it.

[@xianseah4847]

So much extra work, try to understand and follow what nature does. No cleaning up and no fungicide.

[@Mindy-s-channel]

I’m in zone 6. Is November the right time for me to winterize too?

[@JP-bd6wj]

Yes November is the right time to winterize.

[@GoBlue576966]

I'm not trying to be THAT guy, but I was snickering how you went over the sanitizing needs to not spread potential diseases between plants, but then you proceeded to not take the precaution.

[@JP-bd6wj]

Good point.

[@mercury_rising]

I just saw her work on a single plant in this video…

[@randalllaue4042]

Save parts you cut off for new plants...

[@Kurzbraten]

sorry lady, but you showed us that stick as a parameter and then you just tossed it and cut all around. weir video. i did not learn a thing.

[@JP-bd6wj]

So sorry to hear that.

[@MsLuminescence]

Are we watching the same video? She clearly measures 24" from the ground, makes her first cut and uses that as a reference for the other canes. Then she takes the yardstick and measures how much compost she piled on top. This is a great video. I learned so much.