Your plants should now be dormant and if you haven’t already done so, it is time to apply your winter protection.  We like to start by cutting all the bushes back to about 4 feet high.  This will prevent the canes from whipping in the winter wind.  You should then pick a nice day when the temperature is above freezing and apply a lime sulfur dormant spray.  You can find this product at any lawn and garden store.  Apply the spray liberally to your plants and the surrounding area.  The lime sulfur spray will help to kill any disease spores and insect eggs that might otherwise survive the winter and attack your roses next spring. 

Unless you live in a protected area that doesn’t get much wind, you will also want to provide some additional protection.  A thick mulch carefully placed around and over the bud union will keep it from freezing.  We recommend materials such as mushroom compost, pine bark, pine needles, oak leaves, or loose top soil that is bought in from another part of the garden.  This extra mulch will also keep the soil at a more constant temperature.

About this time of year the rose catalogs start arriving in the mail.  Somehow those pictures always seem to look better than the actual roses.  When selecting new roses to add to your garden, we recommend that you check with local consulting rosarians to make sure the variety will do well in our area.  You can do this easily by using the Ask the Experts section of this web site.  When possible, we also recommend that roses be purchased locally.  That way you get to see the plant before you buy it.   

In closing, we want to extend an invitation to attend our January 22nd meeting.  Visitors are always welcome!