Cover roses properly for optimal winter protection

Cover roses properly for optimal winter protection

Protect roses from frost and winter sun

Not only the freezing temperatures are dangerous for the roses, but especially the winter sun on milder days. This can stimulate the flow of sap from the plant, which can be very dangerous after another cold snap. Good winter protection starts with the planting, because grafted roses should be planted in such a way that the grafting point is buried at least five centimeters and covered with plenty of warm soil. Finally, in autumn pile up the above-ground shoot base at least 20 centimeters high with soil or compost and finally cover everything with fir or spruce branches.

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Cover the roses with fir or spruce branches

Fir twigs in particular are very suitable for covering roses, as the twigs keep their needles much longer than the often recommended spruce twigs. If you have the choice, always use the more durable fir branches whenever possible. The needle branches effectively keep wind and cold out and also ensure that the winter protection looks a little more appealing than bare mounds of earth. The coniferous branches can be removed in early spring, but the mounds of earth are only removed after they have sprouted.

Pack the standard roses properly

Since the sensitive grafting point on tall stem roses cannot be buried in the ground, these plants should be packed very carefully. Use jute or fleece to wrap the crown with it. Before doing this, however, put fir or spruce branches between the branches, as these provide additional protection. Young, still flexible standard roses can often be bent down to the ground so that you can completely cover the crown with earth. However, this traditional method only works with young trees, with older trees the risk of splintering and breaking is too high.

Tips

Never use foil or similar plastics to wrap or cover the roses, as these are not breathable. The moisture builds up underneath, which in turn favors the development of fungal diseases.