How can I protect my rose tree from the winter?

Question

I'm very new at gardening but my rose tree (not bush) is doing very well and I want it to stay that way. What can I do to keep it safe from the winter weather?

I live in a really small town in Ohio, it's in my profile but I'm guessing no one looked at that before posting. It's in the ground and it looks like a tree, just a long slim branch at the bottom, it's quite tall almost as tall as I am and I'm 5'8. Also where I live we don't have any local resources for me to reach out to. I wish!

What is pruning and how do I do it?

Answer 1

Well, a rose tree is just a bush that's been pruned to look like a tree so the good news is that is it just a rose which are very hardy and can take cold winters. If it is in the ground then you don't have to do anything unless it would make you more comfortable then you can mulch the ground to help keep the roots warmer. If it is in a pot you can wrap the pot with cloth or pile straw around it to help insulate it. I don't know what zone you are in, but if you purchased your rose where you live then the rose is well suited for your climate. Try not to worry too much. Your rose will make it through the winter just fine.
Also, I don't know how comfortable you are with pruning your rose tree, but sometime between the first freeze of winter and the last freeze of Spring you can prune the canes down a bit to promote a fuller and healthier plant.

http://www.bayeradvanced.com/article/how-to-prune-hybrid-tea-roses.html?source=google
http://homegarden.expertvillage.com/videos/deadheading-roses.htm

Additional Information:
Pruning roses keeps your plant bushy and healthy. It is like a hair cut for plants in which you cut away dead or dying canes and as a way to promote a fuller bush. Pruning a rose tree isn't any different than pruning a rose bush. Just be careful not to prune near the graft which is the area between the trunk and the canes. The main difference between pruning a rose tree and a rose bush is that on a bush you prune a cane to about 2 feet. On a rose tree you prune the cane to 2-4 inches. Here are some instructions and links that will help.
How to prune tree roses:
http://www.organicrosecare.org/articles/pruning_standards.php

General Pruning: (bushes)
You do this to remove any dead or dying canes or spent flowers. You need to pick a set of five leaves, but not necessarily the first set. Pick a set of five that are pointing outward because that will be the direction of a new cane and flowers. If you choose one pointing inward then your canes can cross and will cause other problems. Cut the cane at an angle like this (/) about 1/4" above the five leaf set. It is okay to do this with each cane and especially if the cane is dying. It is also okay to do this throughout the growing season because it promotes new growth. Also, it is important to seal any pruned cane the size of a pencil or larger with white glue to protect the wound and promote faster healing.

Autumn Pruning: (bushes)
Any time between the first freeze of Autumn and the last freeze of winter you can seriously prune your rose down to about 2 feet. This will create a fuller, lusher plant for the new season. Once again you will want to cut at an angle. However, instead of cutting above a five leaf set, this time you will want to cut right above a node which will resemble a small, reddish, slightly pointed bump on the cane. Like the five leaf set, make sure the node is pointing outward.

http://www.bayeradvanced.com/article/how-to-prune-hybrid-tea-roses.html?source=google
Video from Expert Village on how to prune a rose:
http://homegarden.expertvillage.com/videos/deadheading-roses.htm

Good Luck

Answer 2

It really does depend on where you live. Some rose trees are just pruned bushes and others are actually grafted to another kind of long cane. These are the least hardy. I am giving information for someone who lives in a very cold climate (I am in CT for instance) where rose trees do not thrive.

If the rose is in a pot then you can bury the entire thing. I know it sounds crazy but it does work as long as you dig it up early in the spring. If it is planted in the ground I would recommend you insulate it. Good options include bubble wrap -this does not breath so be careful with it if you decide to use it, two boards that are hinged together at the top so as to form a "tent." It needs to be insulated and protected. Again, it really does matter where you live and you may wish to contact your local county extension service and their master gardener program who can tell you the real low down for your area.

Answer 3

To protect from Winter Kill of roses and other shrubs I make a wooden Leantwo. Go to your local Lumberyard and purchase a sheet of Plywood. Look for some 1x1 lumber scraps get a few of them for support arms.Get a Ruler and measure the height of your Roses. Cut 2 pieces of the plywood to a height about 5 inches above the rose plant height. and the width should be at least 10 inches wider out from your bush width. Take and stand up your wood cuts lean one into the other space out the bottoms of them to get a distance view then look at your rose make sure that that distance will work. Should look like this ^ sorry cant make a big V upsidedown. Take the one by one and nail to the center of the Upside V . Then simply flip it over an place over your plants. If your rose plants are new and small Cover them with a Metal coffee can works well too. Best wishes and Happy gardening

Answer 4

I cover many of my shrubs and smaller trees with burlap. I pound stakes into the ground around the item and then staple the burlap around and over the stakes creating a tent over the tree or shrub.
This helps to protect it from the harsh freezing winds. Further, I also give these items a good drink before freeze up.

Small rose bushes I cover with special styrofoam covers.

Once your trees have been well established and get a bit too big for them to be completely covered, just do the same except omit going over the stakes with the burlap.

Answer 5

All roses are hardy plants and you will not have to worry about your tree during the winter. I always prune my roses between now and Christmas. Your tree will benefit from a prune which will make it produce vigorous growth in the spring and give bushier top growth.

Answer 6

since we don't have a clue whether you're in Maine or Southern California, it's hard to tell you anything specific.... the idea of calling your local Extension Office is a good one... meantime, you may find your area mentioned on one of these...

http://www.google.com/search?q=tree+roses+winter+protection&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

Answer 7

roses are very hardy you don't have to worry about them in winter . spring time it will start to grow again .good luck

Answer 8

cover it if you can with plastic.