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Winter Prep

From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?
Job 38: 29,30
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
Psalm 29:9
Praise the Lord....He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes.
Psalm 147:12,16

Winter 1999- A new view and a new garden.
The southeast exposure is perfect for roses.

Winter 1998- The view from our deck
before construction of the new garage.

     If you live in a cold climate such as Michigan's Zone 5 you'll be pleased to know that there is a way you can enjoy tender roses in your garden. Perhaps you've admired a rose such as "Color Magic," but you know you'll be replanting it annually because it can't survive your winter. There is hope! That hope is contained within the pages of Douglas Green's book Tender Roses for Tough Climates. In the summer of 1998 I discovered this encouraging volume at my local library. After reading it through I was convinced that I should plant the bud unions of my tender and semi-tender roses six inches below grade. I waited until they were dormant and proceeded to dig. Once all the roses were planted, I followed Green's advice and cut the exposed canes off at ground level. That was the extent of my winter preparation. No hauling leaves or dirt or buying rose cones at the farm store. I eagerly awaited spring to see what would happen!
      Due to our extremely sandy soil, my experience with Green's advice yielded two results-- a few of my roses slipped nearly to China as the ground heaved and swallowed them up during the spring thaws, and blooming was slightly delayed. However, all of the roses survived the winter, and I had no trouble with suckers from the rootstock. In this first season, the roses that were planted deeper were two to three weeks behind my other roses in producing the first flush of bloom, but as new canes grew from the base, differences disappeared. I don't expect to see this delay next spring. In spite of the delay, we enjoyed three flushes of bloom as usual. I unearthed the roses that sank further below grade than six inches, replanting them at the proper level. I don't think they will sink again because they've had all summer to form a strong root system.
      Douglas Green's method includes cutting the canes off at ground level. My personal preference is to leave the canes uncut. If our winter is mild, some canes survive. Prune dead or diseased wood as needed in early spring.
      Now, curl up with a beautiful rose catalog, such as David Austin's Handbook of Roses 2000, enjoy some hot chocolate, and if you've followed Green's advice-- appreciate all the work you didn't have to do to get your roses ready for winter!

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