What is the best covering for roses in zone 4?

Question

I was told today that the styroform cones were not good.

Answer 1

Straw or mulch. I've never had a problem with the styrofoam rose cones. L&G Centers also make rose collars that are fairly inexpensive and work well too.

Answer 2

I highly recommend the styrofoam rose cone. Tie your rose bushes canes together near the top, to form a pyramidal shape. I would recommend wood mulch, or pinestraw packed in around the base to help protect the graft of the rose.

Secure the cone so that it doesn't blow away. Trim the rose so that the cone will cover the plant.

Be sure that the rose is leafless, and wait to place the cone until late in the season, too early can be detrimental (you can mulch it earlier). In zone 5 (balmy southern Michigan) I wait until after Halloween to put my cones on, sometimes as late as Thanksgiving. We also cut the tops off of our cones, because it's so warm here (actually to keep the heat from building up in the cone in the spring when the sun comes back). You might want to punch some holes (quarter sized) in the cone to help regulate the temperature... that's a trial and error sort of process though.

I hope that this helps
Good luck-

Answer 3

Styrofoam is OK but don't use it alone,I filled mine with chopped straw(not hay to many seeds)You can also make circles around the plants with chicken wire fill with chopped straw,I also wrap more tender ones with burlap.I live in zone 4 and have over wintered zone 6 roses this way.I have over 124 roses in my garden I do this way and I have a very high success rate