Roses come in countless breeds and colors. They are planted out in beds or cultivated in tubs or pots. Depending on the variety and cultivation, it makes more or less high demands on overwintering. Potted and potted roses need special protection from the cold and frost because their roots are not deep in the ground. But with a little skill and planning, you can get these roses through the winter as well.
winter protection
Winter protection for the rose
Roses overwinter best outdoors. With roses that are cultivated in pots or tubs, the roots, trunk and crown must be protected from frost and cold. Roses only survive the German winter well wrapped. Before you start packing, the roses must first be prepared. These preparations begin long before hibernation.
- cut off spent flowers and buds
- Cut before the first frost
- ideal in late summer or autumn
- remove fallen leaves from the planter
When making this last cut, make sure that the rose plants have enough time to close the wound. The fall cut is not a topiary. It serves to prepare the plant for winter dormancy. With no leaves or buds, the rose focuses on its roots. You will be strengthened for the winter.
In order for the rose to be able to optimally prepare for the winter, you should stop fertilizing at the end of July. If you fertilize it later, it will not stop growing and sometimes it will start flowering again. This late flowering delays pruning and subsequent wound closure. And before you know it, the first night frost is here. In addition, the shoots do not lignify and the natural protection is lost.
wrap up roots
A tub or pot does not protect the roots of the rose from the cold. It penetrates the soil from above, below and through the side walls of the planter. So the rose roots are exposed to the cold from all sides. If the planter is not packed, the roots will freeze slowly or very quickly in the event of a sudden frost.
There is a shock:
- freezing of the root ball
- it is best to cover the planter with winter-proof insulating material
- Coat must be water and air permeable
- Bubble wrap, coconut mats, jute felt are ideal
Once the roots have been protected from the cold that can penetrate through the walls of the planter, they must also be protected from frost and moisture at the top and bottom. Especially from below, the cold likes to creep into the pot over stones or tiles. You counteract this by placing the planter higher, i.e. avoiding direct contact with the ground.
The following are suitable for this:
- a plant trolley
- a styrofoam mat
- a coconut mat
- a thick wooden board
Finally, the roots must be protected from above. Since you also have to water the pot rose in winter, it is best to use insulating material that is not too stiff, such as a coconut mat. Attach the cold protection so that the substrate is well covered, but you can still water the rose easily without having to unpack it completely.
- an alternative to packing are special pots or bags made of jute
- put the rose in a sack or planter
- stuff the gap with bark mulch or dry leaves
If a jute bag is used, it is tied at the top. So the substrate does not have to be covered separately. When tying, keep in mind that you may need to water the rose.
Pack crown
The crown of roses must be protected from temperature fluctuations in winter. Because the change between frost and winter sun, possibly also strong winds, dry out unprotected shoots.
The easiest way to protect the crown of roses from the cold is to use a sack. Slip this over the crown and tie it at the end. Suitable materials for this are jute or winter fleece. Both materials are permeable to air and moisture, so that no humid climate can develop below the protection due to condensation.
Winter protection is ideal if:
- it is loose or loose over the crown
- it can be easily tied together at the end
Don't pinch the rose when tying it together. Also make sure that the grafting point is included. You can also protect them with a wrapping tape under the hood.
Tip: Special winter fleece hoods make packing easier. Large crowns are easier to pack with a zip-up coat.
Since foils are neither permeable to air nor moisture, they are not suitable as protection for the crown. A humid climate can form under the film, which is very attractive to fungi and pests.
protect tribe
Cracks can appear in the bark in winter, especially in the case of roses with a standard stem, through which cold and pests can penetrate the plant. You can use mats or wrapping tape to protect the trunk. Suitable materials are jute or winter fleece. Mats are available in specialist shops made of straw or reed.
Tip: Wrapping tapes are easier to handle than mats. In addition, you can use it to wrap the trunk directly and without gaps.
location, care
Location and care during wintering
Of course, a wrapped rose needs no care. However, well-intentioned maintenance mistakes can occur.
Hence:
- water the tub rose only on frost-free days
- very economical watering
- avoid waterlogging
- definitely don't fertilize
Like the packaging, the right location also helps the rose to get through the winter unscathed. It is ideal if you can place your rose plants against a house wall. Not only does it protect the rose from the wind, but it also offers a bit of warmth. But be careful, too much sun in winter damages the plant. Choose a location with morning or evening sun for wintering. However, avoid a location with blazing midday sun.
Overwinter indoors
Overwinter pot roses indoors
Although the rose is very sensitive to cold temperatures, it prefers to winter outside rather than inside. Nevertheless, you can also overwinter a tub rose indoors.
Ideal locations are:
- basement, cellar
- garage
- cool conservatory
It is important that the temperature in the winter quarters does not fall below zero degrees Celsius. Heated rooms are unsuitable for hibernation, as the plant does not hibernate there. A rose only goes into “hibernation” when it is forced to do so by weather conditions. That's why the rose doesn't even think about a break in flowering and growth in a heated winter quarter.
outdoor season
Unpack, start of the outdoor season
It doesn't matter whether the rose has been stored indoors or outdoors, it has to slowly get used to the light and sun again. Even a strong March sun can be a shock for the rose.
Therefore, unzip the plant:
- on an overcast day
- without rain
- with mild temperatures
Tip: Since frost and cold are not always predictable in spring, have the Rose Griff winter protection ready. So you can quickly protect the plant again.