Protecting hybrid roses (teas, floribundas, grandifloras and climbers) need help to get through our usually cold and definitely unpredictable Wisconsin winters. The procedures are not particularly time consuming, but they are necessary to reduce the chance of loss caused by severe cold, drying winter winds, and the radical temperature swings that occur in our climate.  

Early August -  stop fertilizing    This lets the rose plant begin the process of going dormant. This includes a reduction in growth and a hardening of stem tissue, which will increase its winter hardiness. Weekly watering should continue until the ground freezes, since the plant needs moisture through the winter.

Mid October  -  mound the soil    8 to 12" high of fresh soil around the base of the plant ( DO NOT use existing soil that is around the base of your rose plant.) Remove any diseased leaf debris, to avoid re-infection next season and avoid any pruning on the plant at this time. The fresh cuts will create loss of moisture and drying out of stems over the winter months.

  Late November  - Cone over soil option   Rose cones made of foamed plastic or paper mache are frequently used to cover the rest of the rose above the soil line.  It may be necessary to do some minimal pruning so the cone can be placed over the rose and set firmly on the ground. Make sure there are at least six ventilation holes around the top of the cone and place a heavy rock or brick on top of the cone to stabilize it from our winter winds.  

Late November  - Burlap wrap over soil option Some gardeners  prefer not to use cones have a couple of options. Burlap, two to three layers thick, can be wrapped around the entire rose plant and secured with twine. This works very well with climbing roses. 

Yet another method is to use hardware cloth, which is a tightly  woven chicken wire, can be placed around the rose, secured to the ground with sod pins. Fill the inside of the wire all the way  to the top, with straw or leaves. (preferably  oak leaves.) 

Remove the cover   The cover stays on all winter. Remove it when  temperature stays  at least 40 degrees during the day and night.

Remove the Soil when there is no more chance of freezing weather.

Keep in mind that a rose plant that is carefully watered, fertilized, and kept free of insects and diseases during the growing season, will always have a much better chance of surviving our Wisconsin winters.

By Mary Kowalski

Client Service Representative/Horticulturist    Hawks Landscape Maintenance Department