Winterizing Climbing and Tree Roses

Here are some strategies for protecting climbing roses:

1 - Leave them and do nothing, but be aware that you may have some tip dieback.  You will not have great success with all climbers.  Ramblin' Red, Seven Sisters, and William Baffin have performed well.

2 - Detach the bush from the climbing structure.  depending on the woodiness of the oldest canes, bend to ground level, tie, and/or pin the canes to the ground and mulch.

3 - Detach the bush from the climbing support.  Wrap it loosely with burlap.  Stuff gently with desired protective material.  Gently reattach the burlapped plant to the climbing support.

4 - Minnesota Tip:  With older woodier canes on established climbers, partially dig up one side of the bush until the plant can be tipped closely enough to ground level to be covered in mulch.


Some strategies for protecting tree roses include:

1 - Because the graft is up near the top of the standard/trunk, tree roses will not survive unless they are tipped to ground level and heavily mulched.  Exception is Polar Joy Tree Rose, hardy through a Wisconsin winter without tipping.

2 - Tree roses can also be potted up, allowed to go dormant in a dim unheated attached garage.  Diminish the amount of water the plant receives until it goes dormant and then water when needed, until weather begins to warm in the spring.  Re-acclimate the rose to outside weather in spring before replanting it.