Fall and Winter Care

October and November

Clean up beds and stop fertilizing

  • No matter how warm the fall, no matter what your soil test report, resist the urge to fertilize after mid-to late August.

  • Remove dead, damaged, or dying canes as well as any that are crossing other canes and might rub.

  • Remove the old mulch, dead leaves, and other debris – all of which may contain disease spores.

December

After several hard freezes roses are going dormant and it is time to trim them back.

  • Hybrid tea roses trim to 3 or 4 feet

  • Ground cover or short roses don’t need to be cut back.

  • Climbing roses do not need to be cut back, but they should be firmly attached to their support so they will not blow or whip around.

Mulching is critical to protect the rose bush in the winter.

  • Pine bark or hardwood mulch around each rose bush.

  • At least 6”, but more is better.

  • You must especially protect the bud union.

  • Collars are also recommended.

January

Apply dormant spray

  • Dormant Spray is a desiccant that will dry up the remaining leaves.

  • This is especially good for our climate that sometimes can have warm winters.

  • Dormant Spray will smother any spider mite eggs or other detrimental insect eggs and larva that are overwintering in your rose bushes and garden mulch.

Apply contact fungicide

  • A contact fungicide like Fung-onil

  • The Fung-onil, or contact fungicide of your choice, will dry up any fungal spores that are still lingering on your plants and in your garden mulch.

  • By eradicating fungal spores and insect eggs, it is less likely the first rain of the season will splash the troublemaking spores and eggs back onto your bush.

  • Note you can also use Sulfur Lime

How to use dormant spray

  • Mix up 3 Tablespoons of Dormant Spray, 2 1/4 teaspoons of Fung-onil, and 1/2 teaspoon of Spreader Sticker with 1 gallon of water.

  • Spray bushes AND the mulch surrounding the roses.

  • Wait 2 weeks and apply for a second time if blackspot, downey, or spider mites were an issue during the previous growing season.

One last step – Wilt Pruf

  • Winds are wicked and not a friend to roses therefore you should spray with Wilt Pruf to reduce cold weather evaporation.

  • Stops plants from drying out.

  • Protects against drought.

  • Stops winter burn by holding in moisture on plant foliage and stems.