Howto keep my roses hight over the winter?

Question

I have always been told to cut them back wrap with tarp and than cone them. I do not want to have to do that. I would like to keep the hight over the w9inter so it will get more height next year. so instead of always having 3 foot roses I want some of those 5-6 footers any Ideas ????

Answer 1

It's just the way you prune them. Cut out all dead or weak growth except for one or three strong stems and prune those as high as possible to one outward facing strong bud. Fertlise well with Blood 'n bone or meat neal and add some sulphate of potash. and put a trench a spade depth aroubnd your roses and the fertilizer in the bottom. mix in a bit and refill the trench. You'll have roses anybody would be proud of.

Answer 2

I guess you're in a cold zone?.... since you said 'cone them'.... the only other way to protect  a rose when it's that cold, is to bury it..... it's called 'heeling in'... done like this...

http://www.helpmefind.com/plant/gl.php?n...

most folks I know that use this method only dig up half the rootball, leaving half connected to roots in the ground, then  dig the ditch on the side where the roots are connected, so that when you lay the rose down into the ditch, that half of the roots are still in the ground and the other half is up in the air....

then, as you put the soil over the whole thing, you'll cover the exposed roots, too... mulching with lots of bark, leaves, chips and then branches provide even more insulation for the plant....

this is done AFTER a good freeze has taken off all the leaves and the plant is dormant for the winter... you should cut the trench for the burial before the ground freezes, and have the dirt handy to put into the trench.....

when you wake it up in spring, there will still need to be some pruning... if might go into the trench six ft tall, but there will be some die-back of the tip ends....

luck to ya....