Covering roses in the Central Russian region: methods and tips

Central Russia is a region with seasonal climate fluctuations and fairly harsh winters. The queen of flowers, the rose, is a southern plant. Therefore, genetically, it lacks a seasonal dormancy period. However, this beautiful flower has long captured the hearts of Russians, and many gardeners actively cultivate it. But how do you cover roses for the winter in central Russia to protect the delicate bush from the winter cold?

Before purchasing a rose bush for planting in your garden, you need to understand that you'll have to work hard to protect it from frost. It's best to buy winter-hardy rose varieties, of which there are now quite a few, especially Canadian selections. They also require protection, but they're better adapted to cold temperatures, and the risk of losing the bush is much lower. Varietal roses with delicate flowers (white, yellow, cream) are more vulnerable than deep red or burgundy varieties.

Buy only bushes grafted onto rose hips; this significantly extends their life cycle. The plant's cold resistance increases significantly.

Most flowers can withstand temperatures as low as -4.5 degrees Celsius. When temperatures drop below freezing, photosynthesis and growth cease, and the plant enters a dormant state. This is why the final stage of covering is recommended to occur during the first frosts of November, or early November.

Preparing the bush for winter

Roses need to be prepared for winter in stages, so that the plant gradually adjusts to a state of suspended animation.

Subsequence:

1. Preparing the bush for winter should begin in July. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers and additives are removed from the fertilizing regimen. Subsequently, only phosphorus and potassium-containing fertilizers are applied. Organic matter and nitrogen stimulate the plant to grow and bloom, and the gardener must prepare the plant for winter.
2. In August, we reduce watering to a minimum.
3. In September, it's recommended to fertilize the bush with potassium magnesium sulfate. Potassium strengthens the roots, and magnesium stimulates flowering in the new season. During this period, you can begin trimming the leaves with pruning shears, gradually limiting photosynthesis.
4. At the end of September, beginning of October we weed, removing all the weeds.

To properly cover roses for the winter in central Russia, it is necessary to carry out preparatory measures for the plant's overwintering.

The second stage of preparation is pruning.

Before pruning, water the roses generously. Place dry, fertile soil in bags for hilling up the bush for the winter. Mix the soil with peat and sand and leave it under cover. But how do you prune?

There are general recommendations for gardeners, but each of them chooses their own pruning method.

Why is it done in late autumn:

1. Rejuvenate the bush. Remove old shoots, young shoots that are not woody, and immature. If left, they will begin to die and rot under cover. New shoots with bark appearing are left, an average of seven. Five is usually sufficient, but if any freeze, they can be cut back in the spring.
2. The bush's shape is established for next year. To do this, branches are left pointing in different directions and not interfering with each other. This will promote good ventilation and even distribution of sunlight.

In this way, dormant buds are stimulated to form future shoots and flowering.

This is a good preventative measure against pests and diseases.

Before pruning, remove foliage from branches using pruning shears. This is done to prevent foliage from rotting and causing disease. This isn't possible on all bushes, for example, on climbing roses. As a preventative measure, they are treated with iron or copper-containing solutions.

Read also:

• How to get rid of powdery mildew on phlox?
• Preparing garden roses for winter

How to prune roses?

The pruning shears must be sharp, and the cut is made at an angle one centimeter from the bud.

The choice of pruning—short, medium, or gentle—depends on the rose variety and the grower's preferences. Floribundas can be left with more shoots. For more vigorous flowering, a medium pruning is recommended. For groundcover roses, only the tops should be trimmed. For hybrid tea roses, a short (2-3) bud pruning or a medium pruning (6-8) is optimal. Medium pruning is recommended for standard roses and English-bred roses.

Gardeners typically experiment to find a method that works best for them. Afterward, they collect the remaining branches and leaves and burn them, thus destroying the pests and the affected leaves.

The penultimate stage of preparation

After the remains of the pruned bush have been removed, the soil around it is dug up. A small amount of fertilizer can be added, but avoid nitrogen-based fertilizers.

It's important to remember that you can only cover a rose bush by placing it on dry ground. If it rains in the region, a special canopy made of plastic is used.

We cover the bush with spruce branches

Let's learn how to cover roses for the winter in the central zone with spruce branches, using a simple and accessible method.

If winters in your region are relatively warm and severe frosts are rare, you can cover the bush with spruce branches.

A previously prepared mixture of soil, peat, and sand (about one bucket) is poured into bags onto the bush prepared for winter. The mound should be higher than the grafting site. Next, cover it with spruce branches. Fallen snow will provide shelter for the plant. It is recommended to add snow to the cover several times throughout the winter.

If a medium or gentle pruning is performed, the bush must first be bent to the ground. This can be done using various tools: stiff wire hooks, rebar, greenhouse arches, etc. Try to perform this procedure gradually in several stages to avoid breaking branches. Bend the bush only toward the graft. Then, sprinkle the root ball with the prepared soil mixture and cover it with spruce branches. You can lay foam or boards on the ground where the bush is placed.

It's important to never use leaves, straw, or compost as insulation. These will rot and cause disease. Only oak leaves, which are not susceptible to this process, are allowed.

Covering with soil and sawdust

In central Russia, you can also cover roses for the winter with sawdust (see photo below). This method is suitable for regions with relatively warm winters and dry soils. If the groundwater table is shallow, the sawdust and soil will attract moisture and freeze. This can lead to the death of the bush or individual stems.

The method involves mixing sawdust into the prepared mixture, which acts as an additional insulator. Additionally, the bush is wrapped in non-woven insulation and tied. This covering method is most suitable for rigid, upright bushes.

The most reliable way to cover roses is with non-woven insulation on a frame

The most effective method of covering is air-drying, using non-woven insulation. The most well-known of these is spunbond, although names vary depending on the manufacturer. They are made from polymer fibers. They offer several advantages:

1. They don't let water through, but at the same time, they allow steam to pass through them like a membrane, allowing the plant underneath to breathe.
2. They are good insulators. The thicker the material, the warmer.
3. It allows light to pass through, so after roses unfurl in spring, they don't experience stress from bright sunlight. It's important to buy light-colored spunbond.
4. A fairly durable material, resistant to UV rays and temperature fluctuations. It can last up to 5 years.
5. In addition, the material is affordable.

A frame is constructed over the bush, with the roots mounded. It can be made of wooden boards, reinforcing mesh, special arches, or plastic boxes. The top is covered with non-woven material, and the ends of the material are secured with something heavy. A layer of soil can be added. One side is left open until frost sets in; once consistently cold weather sets in, it is closed. In this shelter, the plant will overwinter at an average temperature of 4°C (4°F).

Every gardener brings their own unique twist to the step-by-step process of covering roses for the winter in the central part of the country. For example, they make umbrella-shaped frames using spunbond.

A garden decoration, the rose is a delicate southern plant that needs protection from the cold.