Don't miss the moment when the roses are sheltered for the winter
The modern catalog provides us with a wide selection of roses of different types and varieties, including those with increased frost resistance. But even such plants sometimes need additional protection from frost, especially when grown in regions with harsh winters. To preserve your rose garden and protect it from freezing, it is important to know when the roses are covered for the winter. It would seem that this is difficult, but no. Preparation of shrubs for wintering should be timely, not early, and not late. If you cover the roses prematurely, then in the event of the return of warm weather, they will begin to rot. Later, the shelter becomes completely useless. It's like trying to revive a dead branch or bud.
There are two types of shelter for roses - this is protection against freezing of the root system and the directly aboveground part, that is, shoots. Each of them has its own terms.
When they cover roses for the winter - we insulate the roots
To do this, towards the end of September:
- build a mound around the bush, pouring earth;
- cover the soil with leaves, sawdust or just sand on top.
In the southern regions, where it is warm in winter, the roots do not need to be covered. Moreover, a slight frost, minus 3-5 ° C, will only benefit them and harden them.
Shelter timing of the aboveground part of rose bushes
As with the roots, the shoots must also be given the opportunity to undergo hardening by slight frosts. In this case, not a couple of days, but at least a week, or even two. Just do not forget to consider what varieties you grow. The most delicate are own-rooted roses. You can cover them with the very first, as soon as the thermometer drops slightly below 0. The critical values for such varieties will already be 3 ° C of frost, so do not miss the moment.
As for the varieties grafted on rose hip, then they are characterized by increased winter hardiness, and can withstand minus 12 ° C without loss. You can cover such roses in October, and even at the beginning of November. It all depends on your climate. But experienced florists recommend not waiting for severe frosts, but letting the rose garden undergo hardening at minus 5 ° C.