Winter Rose Care
Winter is a crucial period for rose care, as proper maintenance during the dormant season sets the stage for healthy growth and abundant blooms in the spring and summer. Key aspects of winter rose care include pruning, feeding, and disease prevention.
Pruning Roses in Winter and early spring
Pruning is essential for the overall health, vitality, and appearance of roses. Winter is the key time to cut back most varieties, except rambling roses, which are pruned in late summer after flowering. Click here for more information hybrid and shrub roses and climbing roses
Do not prune your roses in frosty or freezing weather
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommends pruning roses in late winter (February or March) when growth is just resuming. Cuts should be no more than 5mm (¼ inch) above a bud and should slope downwards away from it to prevent water from collecting on the bud. It’s advisable to cut to an outward-facing bud to encourage an open-centred shape. Additionally, removing dead, diseased, or crossing stems promotes better air circulation and reduces disease risk.
Feeding Roses
While feeding is typically associated with the growing season, preparing the soil in winter can benefit your roses. Incorporating well-rotted manure or compost around the base of the plant during winter mulching enriches the soil and provides essential nutrients for the upcoming growth period plus some Growmore fertilizer. This practice also helps insulate the roots against harsh winter conditions.
Disease Prevention
Winter is an opportune time to implement disease prevention strategies for your roses. Cleaning up fallen leaves, dead blooms, and other debris from the base of your roses reduces overwintering pests and diseases. This practice minimizes the risk of fungal infections and pest infestations in the spring.
Additionally, applying a Vitax winter wash spray during the winter months can help control common rose diseases such as black spot, powdery mildew, and rust plus control over wintering pest eggs such as greenfly. Vitax winter wash is typically applied after pruning and before new growth emerges, ensuring that any lingering fungal spores are eradicated before they can infect new foliage.
By focusing on these key aspects of winter rose care—pruning, feeding, and disease prevention—you can ensure that your roses remain healthy and vibrant, ready to produce beautiful blooms in the coming growing season.
