What is the Preparation and Pruning Process for Winterizing Climbing Roses?
To prepare your climbing roses for winter, you’ll need to stop fertilizing and deadheading the plants about six weeks before the first frost. This allows the plant to enter dormancy. When it comes to pruning, the best time is during the winter months. Remove old leaves and identify the oldest, less productive canes. Cut these canes at ground level or at a low point where you want new growth to form. Cut out thin, weak growth, dead wood, and awkward crossing branches, but leave the side branches on the remaining canes for now and tie them onto the supports, spacing them evenly. Prune the side branches (laterals) down to 3 or 4 buds, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. For newly planted climbers, tie in any canes that have developed over the summer and cut side shoots back to about 6 inches.
How Do You Apply Mulch for Winterizing Climbing Roses?
The type of mulch you use and how you apply it will depend on your climate. In colder climates (Zones 1-6), create a mound of soil, compost, shredded leaves, or evergreens around the base of the plant, about 8-10 inches deep. This helps keep the rose uniformly cold and reduces damage from freeze-thaw cycles. For climbing roses, you can lay the canes on the ground and cover them with approximately 6 inches of garden soil, or tie the canes together and wrap them in straw and burlap. In warmer climates (Zones 7-13), mulch around the base of your roses using materials like 100% Natural Mint Compost, straw, fir boughs, or branches, applying a 2-3 inch thickness.
What Protection Methods Should You Use for Winterizing Climbing Roses?
In very cold climates, consider using burlap or other breathable cloth as a wind breaker, draping it over the plant to protect it from drying winds. You can also spray the plant with Wilt Pruf for additional protection. For grafted climbing roses, mound a little soil over the bud union to protect this sensitive area. If necessary, use the Minnesota Tip method: tip the plant over and bury it for the winter. Alternatively, tie the canes together, mound soil over the crown, and wrap the canes in straw and burlap. Secure any covers or wraps with weighted objects to prevent them from blowing away.
When Should You Winterize Climbing Roses?
The timing for winterizing your climbing roses is important. Stop fertilizing in early August and cease deadheading by Labor Day. Wait until after several days of below-freezing temperatures before applying winter protection, as this ensures the plant is dormant and reduces the risk of disease from heat buildup under the cover. Begin gradually removing winter protection in late March or early April when new growth starts to appear, being careful not to injure the new growth.
