Winter Rose Care

Winter rose care depends on where you live and what kind of roses you have. For example, Albas or Rugosas are more winter hardy than most other roses. But hybrid tea roses are especially sensitive to the cold weather.


Extreme cold itself does not kill roses. The problem is that frequent alternate freezing and thawing causes the roots to break. Also, the winter sun and dry winds remove moisture from the canes and make winter injury more of a problem.

Here are some general tips for winter rose care:

At the end of the growing season for your rose bush, take some time to get it ready for winter. Clean your rose bed. Get rid of any diseases and insects. Remove fallen petals and leaves in the rose bed.

In all except the warmest climates, use straw, peat moss, or other material for winter mulching. Mulch regulates the soil temperature and moderates the effects of freezing and thawing. Pile about six inches of soil around each plant after the first frost, then after the ground is frozen, mulch.

In climates where temperatures remain below 20 degrees F (7 degrees C), you probably want to use a protective covering, such as a heavy burlap sack, to protect your roses.