Beginners' Column: Safeguarding Your Roses

摘要

While warm climate rose gardens continue to bloom, it's the end of the season for northern rose gardens. Dropping temperatures and diminishing daylight throughout autumn signal the onset of dormancy. Once dormant, most roses require some degree of winter protection, not to keep them warm, but to keep them dormant during mid-winter freeze/thaw cycles. Before preparing your garden for winter, first evaluate your roses and determine the best and worst performers of the season. Be willing to move, pass along or discard roses that failed to thrive in your garden and make notes about why they were unsuccessful.