How should I prepare my hybrid tea roses for winter?

Question: 

How should I prepare my hybrid tea roses for winter?

Answer: 

Most hybrid tea, grandiflora, floribunda, and other modern roses require protection during the winter months.  Low temperatures and rapid temperature changes in winter can severely injure and sometimes kill unprotected modern roses.  (Most old garden roses possess excellent cold hardiness and don’t require winter protection.) 

Hilling or mounding soil over the base of each plant is an excellent way to protect hybrid tea, grandiflora, and floribunda roses.  Begin by removing fallen leaves and other debris from around each plant.  Removal of diseased plant debris will help reduce disease problems next season.  Then, loosely tie the canes together with twine to prevent the canes from being whipped by strong winds.  Next, cover the bottom 10 to 12 inches of the rose canes with soil.  Place additional material, such as straw or leaves, over the mound of soil.  A small amount of soil placed over the straw or leaves should hold these materials in place. 

Learn more about growing roses in this article: Growing Roses in Iowa.

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