10/11/2024
There are a few things to do to prepare your roses for winter. An important step is to reduce the height of any tall octopus canes. Super tall canes can whip around in winter winds or be weighed down by ice and snow. Canes can break off at the base or damage other canes when thorns catch and shred. There will be no adverse effects when selective canes from shrub roses are cut down to 4’. For climbers, make sure foundation canes are tied well to their support structure. Varieties where this practice is beneficial include many David Austin garden roses and hybrid teas.