Climbing roses are pretty tough cookies, and for the most part, they don’t need much fussing over during the winter months. However, a little extra TLC can go a long way in making sure they bounce back beautifully in the spring. It all starts with picking the right spot in your garden, but there are a few other tricks to keep up your sleeve. Here’s the lowdown on keeping your climbers happy when the temperature drops.
How to Get Your Climbing Roses Winter-Ready
If you want a stress-free winter, the best thing you can do is choose hardy varieties that are known to handle long cold snaps and frost like a pro. If you’re not sure about a specific rose, just do a quick check on its hardiness zone. Most common varieties are actually quite resilient, especially if you live in an area with relatively mild winters.
Here’s your quick winter prep checklist:
- In August, give your roses a boost with a dose of potassium sulfate (potash).
- Once fall hits, mound up some extra soil around the base of the plant to protect the graft union.
- Lay down some evergreen boughs (like spruce) around the base for extra insulation.
- If a real deep freeze is headed your way, you can wrap the canes in burlap sacks for added protection.
Feeding Your Climbing Roses the Right Way
To keep a climbing rose looking its best, it needs the right nutrients. Most of us gardeners love to use organic fertilizers to keep the soil healthy and the plant thriving. But here’s the kicker: timing is everything when it comes to fertilizing your roses.
To set your roses up for success in the winter, you actually need to stop feeding them well before the first frost. Wrap up your regular fertilizing routine by July. Then, in August, apply a bit of potassium sulfate to the planting site. This helps the plant shift its energy toward the roots and allows the new wood to “harden off.” Mature, woody stems handle frost much better than soft, green growth, which is exactly what your rose needs to survive the winter chill.
