Whether we like it or not, the winter winds will soon be blowing. Therefore, it’s time to think about our trusted friends—our rose bushes. Roses bring us so much joy and beauty throughout the year. In fact, as I’m writing this, it’s a sunny, 80-degree day, and I can smell and view the beautiful roses in my garden. However, I can’t deny the fact that the Steelers are at training camp, which means winter can’t be far away. It’s something I’m just not ready to bare!

But like it or not, winter is on its way, and therefore, you need to protect your roses. Winterizing roses is a very important maintenance practice to ensure vigorous growth from year to year. Most of the roses sold in Western Pennsylvania are very hardy and perfect for our climate; however, some may need more care than others. Remember rule number one from the Blue Thumb Gardener: Always consult the professionals! My locally-owned garden center has been suggesting great rose plants to me for years. I’ve followed a few simple suggestions from my local experts, and because of this, my plants do well every spring. (Remember: Before you do anything, make sure you consult your local professional to ensure the winterizing procedures you choose are correct for your specific plants).

Here is the simplest and most agreed upon method of winterizing your rose plants:

1. Cut back your roses to about 18-24 inches.
2. Tie the canes together with twine.
3. Form an 8-12 inch mound of fresh, loose soil with compost added around the base of the plant.

Doing this will help prevent the roses from being damaged by the cold temperatures, high winds and ice. Some people—myself included—have success with mounding mulch instead of soil; but a lot of what I’ve read suggests loose soil mounds. When spring rolls around and you observe the beginning of new growth on your roses, carefully remove the soil or mulch mounds.

Most of what I share in my experience as your Blue Thumb Gardener is just basic common sense mixed with a little luck! Proper pruning year-round is also important in your continued success with roses. If you follow the steps below, you will have the best chance for growing vibrant and vigorous plants.

1. Start by choosing the right plant for your region. Most of Western Pennsylvania is in Zone 5. Your local gardening professional can tell you which zone you are located in.
2. Ask which rose plants are the most “winter-hardy” and easiest to maintain for the season.
3. Know how to prune, when to prune and to what extent. Once again ask an expert for specific advice for each plant. If they don’t know the answers to your questions, go elsewhere when purchasing your plants. Research ahead of time on-line, or enroll in a class or seminar.
4. Ask what to use for fertilizing your roses, how often to apply it, and when to stop fertilizing for the season.

Additional Tips for Winterizing Your Garden:

1. If you fertilize your grass yourself, consider fall fertilization and even aeration. Consult your local garden center for the proper fertilization.
2. Safely store all outdoor accessories including tools, planters and décor.
3. If you have them, put up birdfeeders and stock up on seed to feed our feathered friends during the winter months.
4. Remove all dead vegetation and add it to your compost pile if you have one. (Note: if you think there is any chance the vegetation is diseased or pest infested—throw it out.)
5. Plant spring-blooming bulbs such as tulips and daffodils. Plant them anytime from September through December, depending on how quick it becomes cold. Just make sure the ground can be easily worked. These bulbs will be a fantastic addition to your early spring landscape.
6. Rake all of your leaves and dispose of them, preferably in a compost heap. Failing to rake leaves can result in a dying or diseased lawn.
7. Drain the gas from your lawnmower and weed trimmer. Actually it’s best to let your mowers and trimmers simply run out of fuel.
8. Clean all of your landscaping equipment before you store it away for the long, cold winter. Wash with soap and water, clean the air filter and change the oil. You’ll find that first lawn-mowing job in the spring will be a little bit easier if you take time to sharpen the blades now. You can also spray your blades with a little WD-40 oil while storing them over the course of the winter.
9. Lastly, drain all of the water from the garden hoses and flush and turn off the taps. Be sure to store your insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers in a safe storage area that will not freeze. Make sure these materials are kept away from children and pets.

As with most things in life, planning and preparation in your garden will help you tremendously. Last fall I made a concerted effort to follow my own advice and my yard, garden, tools, lawnmower and trimmer were all in great shape and ready to go in early spring. I even made an effort to tidy up my yard throughout the course of the fall and winter by removing dead branches and debris and in the spring, I was happy I did.

As for the constant quest to progress from a “blue-thumb” to a green-thumb gardener, just remember: keep it simple, follow directions and don’t ever take advice from anyone more messed up than you! GO STEELERS!