Overwintering roses: in the pot & in the bed

The fragile rose needs special protection in the cold season. Here you can find out how to successfully overwinter your roses in beds and pots.

roses (pink) thrive best in areas with warmer climates. In harsher areas, special winter protection measures may therefore be necessary to ensure that your rose survives the cold months well. Above all, you should protect the sensitive grafting area and the shoot base with the buds for the coming vegetation period from cold temperatures and winter sun. In this article, we explain how best to go about wintering your roses.

Roses hibernate

When will my roses get too cold without protection? How do I go about wintering outdoors and what should I watch out for with potted roses? We have summarized the answers to these questions for you below.

When will the roses get too cold?

Most rose varieties are not frost hardy, which is why you should think about suitable protective measures early enough. However, it is best to let the rose shoots mature and only apply the winter protection when a frost period is in prospect.

Overwintering roses in the bed

First remove old inflorescences and leaves. In addition, you should remove the fallen leaves on the ground to prevent fungal diseases. Then heap the rose about 20 cm high with soil so that about three to four eyes are covered. You should only cut back your rose in the spring. You can also put fir green between the higher shoots that are still sticking out to offer them protection. The same applies to climbing roses, where the fir green can be inserted between the shoots along the trellis.

Standard roses, on the other hand, need special frost protection. Again, first remove the foliage from the crown and from the ground. Then carefully bend young stems downwards. Be sure to pay attention to the direction of the bend so that the trunk does not break off. Then attach the trunk to the ground using hooks. The crown should lie flat and be covered with garden soil. Compost is not suitable for this, otherwise the crown will begin to rot over the winter. A covering of straw or fir green also offers additional protection for the grafting point.

Older standard roses do not need to be bent over. It is best to pack the crown with straw or fir green and pull an air-permeable cover over it - for example a jute bag or a fleece hood. In addition, you can pile up the standard rose at the grafting site and, if necessary, attach a suitable trunk protection.

Summary of overwintering roses in the bed:

1. Apply winter protection only when a frost period is imminent
2. Remove old inflorescences and leaves
3. Remove leaves from the ground
4. Cover with soil about 20 cm high
5. Tuck pine greens between the shoots

Overwinter roses in pots

With pot roses, additional protection of the roots is of great importance. As in the field, you should first pile up the rose in the pot or tub to protect the grafting point. In addition, the rose bush can be covered with fir green. You can also provide standard roses with a crown pad. Next, cover the pot with jute bags or bamboo mats and tie them tightly. Be generous: the thicker the protective layer, the better the insulation against the cold.

So that the rose is also protected from the cold from below, we recommend that you place the pot on a wooden or polystyrene board to avoid direct contact with the ground. Have you then also selected a location that protects your rose from wind and weather? a successful hibernation outside in the garden, on the balcony or the terrace is no longer an issue Ways. If permafrost persists, however, it is advisable to bring the potted roses indoors and place them in an unheated room - for example in the basement.

Summary of overwintering potted roses:

1. Select protected location
2. Remove flowers and leaves
3. Pile up with earth
4. Tuck pine greens between the shoots
5. If necessary, attach crown pads
6. Wrap pot with insulating material
7. Place on styrofoam plate
8. Bring indoors if there is permafrost

Tip from the pro: Despite the vegetation dormancy, you should make sure that the rose does not dry out completely over the winter when cultivating in pots. However, only water on frost-free days so that the roots are not damaged.

Caring for roses after winter

If no more severe frosts are to be expected, you can remove the fir green and the heaped up earth again at the end of March / beginning of April. You should then straighten up the tall trunks and remove crown pads if necessary. Then it's already time for the grooming cut. What is the best way to do this and what to do with the care of roses We will explain to you in detail in our special article what else needs to be taken into account during the course of the year.