Roses:How Do I Prepare Them For Winter's Cold

[Lynn CC]

I planted a lot of Roses in my backyard (pink, peach, red, white,yellow) early last spring and now I'm not sure if I should cut them back, fertilize etc. Any suggestions?
I gave away so many bunches of roses and other flowers this summer, it was so much fun. It wasn't inexpensive to buy them and the fertilizer every 6 weeks, so I would like to make sure they will make it through their first winter.
Do you know a good plant care website?

 

[monkeyboy]

Lynn

Begin by removing leaves that have fallen to the ground around the plant and any foliage still attached to the stems. This will reduce the chances of disease. Apply a light feeding (preferably 0-10-10) around each plant and water well. Prune to 1/2 their height and tie the canes together with twine. In areas where winter temperatures don't go below 20 degrees F, no winter protection is required for most roses. In areas with colder temperatures, start your preparations just before the first hard freeze. Most of the newer shrub roses as well as many of the floribundas and miniatures don't need winter protection, so the following guidelines are most applicable to hybrid tea and grandiflora roses, as well as for any other rose varieties of questionable hardiness. (If in doubt, protect it.)
IF WINTER TEMPERATURES DROP TO 0 DEGREES F
The base of each rose must be protected by an 8-inch mound of soil (imported from another part of the garden), coarse compost, leaf mold from a 1 year old pile, shredded bark, or other organic material. This protection will have to be removed in the spring.

IF WINTER TEMPERATURES DROP BELOW 0 DEGREES F
Increase the mound size to 12 inches. The 12 inch mound can be covered with another 8-10 inches of loose mulch, such as pine needles, oak leaves, pine branches, or straw. If winds are severe top the pile with baskets or other coverings.

LARGE-FLOWERING, REPEAT-BLOOMING CLIMBERS
If temperatures drop below -5 degrees F these roses will need special care. Remove the canes from the supports and lay them on the ground.Cover the entire plant with soil or mulch.

 

[Lynn CC]

Thanks for the info! By pruning them back 1/2 way does that mean just clipping their stems down? Some of them were up to my knees when I planted them in the Springtime and now they are over my head.
Looks like I'll be busy this weekend.

 

[monkeyboy]

Originally posted by Lynn CC
By pruning them back 1/2 way does that mean just clipping their stems down?

no clue I just Googled the info

 

[Lynn CC]

Oh, OK thanks for Googling!
I grew up a "city gal", trying to learn about gardening now that I have some time.

 

[pumba]

for three years or more.....we had 12 beautiful plants.......last year we lost all of them because we didnt' ahve enough snow and the frost was way below the usual area......SOOOO no more roses....we also lost three lilac trees....those are usually hardy but Maine and them did not mix last year

 

[Lynn CC]

That is so sad, to lose 12 in one Winter.
The lady at the garden center told me to go to the beach and collect buckets of seaweed to put around the bottoms. They love the nutrients it gives off throughout the season.
Looks like I have to go searching for seaweed!