Wholesale nurseries grow hybrid tea, floribunda, sub zero, and grandifiora roses in Texas, California and Oregon where the winters are mild. The various cultivars are budded in the fall, and grown in large fields for two or three years. Finally, the mature roses are dug in the Fall and placed in refrigerated cold storage for the Winter. In the Spring the roses are distributed to retail nurseries across the country. In our climatic zone (5 to 4) all of these groups of roses need winter protection.  They are not hardy here.
       Last winter was a mild winter. Some of the hybrid tells with little (straw piled around the plant) or no protection survived. To be prepared for a cold winter if you insist on gambling with your money, try the `Minnesota Tip'. Spray your plants with dormant spray and tie them together with rot resistant twine. From the base of the plant, dig a trench that is the depth and width of the rose. Gently bend the canes of the rose into the trench and cover with soil. Mark the base of the plant with a stake. Tip all of the roses in the bed in the same direction. It will be easier to retrieve them in the Spring. After this phase, the soil should be almost level When cold weather arrives in November, apply a 6 " mulch. Put down mothballs or mouse poison under the mulch In the Spring, around the first of April, remove the mulch When the soil dries, lift the roses, using a spading fork. This method, was developed and tested in Minnesota where winter temperatures are often 40 degrees below zero. Remember, tea, floribunda, subzero and grandiflora roses begin to have winter injury when the temperature falls below 20 degrees above zero, and most likely will die during one of our really cold winters. Any time after October 25th and before the second week in November is a safe time to cover roses.
        Prune roses in mid April, after growth has started. Do not prune roses in the Fall. The height to prune roses depends on the extent of the winter injury and the height you wish to have your roses. Remove any dead or damaged canes, canes that rub against each other and canes that are weak. Good air circulation is encouraged by opening up the center of the plant. If you are sick
and tired of your tea roses dying, come out to Holly Gardens and look at some hardy roses for less money that will live in our area without all of the extra hoopla.   Happy gardening
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