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Roses will 'survive winter' by doing four important gardening jobs this month

by · DevonLive

Roses may be resilient, but they can struggle in cold climates without following proper advice over the bitter winter months.

Horticulture experts at Millcreek Gardens have shared the significance of garden maintenance for your roses to guarantee an abundance of blooms come springtime.

The specialists warned: "Without proper care in the autumn, rose bushes may not survive the winter."

They added: "If you want to make sure you see blooms next spring, you need to prepare your roses for the cold weather months."

The gardening gurus have laid out four essential steps to follow before the onset of winter next month, reports the Express.

Roses will survive winter with four simple tasks(Image: (Image: Getty))

1. Remove damaged leaves

The advice for this season is to refrain from extensive pruning, focussing instead on removing any dead, diseased or damaged leaves from your rose plants which is considered "wise".

While handling the leaves, the use of pruners is recommended over pulling, to avert "entry points for disease" through tears in the stem.

2. Trim canes that are too long

Given that strong gusts can cause longer canes of your roses to whip around and potentially get "they can suffer damage", it's advisable to trim them back to around four feet.

Subsequently, binding the canes loosely together should help prevent excessive movement.

3. Clean up around roses

Post leaf and cane maintenance, ensure to clear away any fallen plant matter beneath the bushes.

To mitigate disease risks like black spot and "help ensure your roses bloom beautifully in the spring", getting rid of the litter is crucial.

4. Apply mulch around the base of roses

Mulching not only provides plants with valuable nutrients, but it also acts as insulation for their roots in the winter.

To protect your roses, put down about eight to 12 inches of high-quality mulch around the base of the bushes.

Take extra care to cover the base of the rose plant above the roots where all the canes come from well, as it is often susceptible to winter injury.