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Winterizing Hardy Roses in Platte City, Missouri

Many gardeners prune back their roses to protect roses from the freezing temperatures of Platte City, Missouri. Pruning is a personal choice and there is more than one way to protect roses from the freezing temperatures of Platte City, Missouri. One involves some pruning and one does not include trimming the bushes back.

protect roses from the freezing temperatures of Platte City, Missouri

The first way to winterize your hardy roses is to purchase a rose cone from a local gardening store. Make sure you punch holes in the cone to provide air within the cone to prevent a build-up of moisture on the rose. Weigh the top of the cone down, but leave it open. You should push soil against the cone to seal it. Then you can prune the roses back to about 3 feet tall. Once they are pruned, you can tie them with string to prevent damage from the harsh winter winds. Mound the base of the roses with 10-12” of soil. Don’t use the soil from your own planting beds because when you take the top soil off you risk exposing the roots and the crown to the elements.

The second option is called collaring. When you use the collaring process you don’t prune the top of the roses at all. Instead you remove the extra leaves that are still on the bush, then tie up the bush with twine and mound the soil 10-12” around the base of the plant to insulate the rose’s crown. Once you’ve mounded the dirt place a wire hoop around the plant to form a collar. Use leaves to fill the collar completely. This provides a natural insulation for the roses. Additional protection can be provided by wrapping an old blanket or piece of burlap around the collar and tying it with twine.

While it might be tempting to add new roses as you are winterizing the rose bed, it is important that you don’t place any new roses in with the old roses. The addition of the new roses into an established bed causes both the new and old roses to compete for nutrients over the winter. This isn’t good for either plant and can cause both plants to emerge weaker in the spring.

Have questions about your winterizing process? Call the lawn care professionals at R&S Lawn Service today to set up a free consultation.