In fact, the only roses that truly go dormant are non-reblooming Old Garden Roses. Modern re-blooming roses are designed to continuously restart their growth cycle for repeat blooming. For this reason, they do not get to a point where they are actually in a true state of rose dormancy.
The hormones and enzymes naturally present in a ripening hip will start the rose toward dormancy. From Hallowe'en on just pull off the old petals and let the hips develop. As late December and January sets in, strip off the old leaves so the bush is forced to go to sleep until Spring.
In my garden near Boston, some of the roses are still blooming, but the flowers look a little battered at this time of year. We've had frost, and the rose canes are developing that purplish cast that signifies their natural transition into dormancy. Cooler weather and shorter days prompt the onset of dormancy.
Roses could still be seen actively growing and blooming in many area gardens following the Thanksgiving holiday, but believe it or not, roses need a four- to six-week rest or "dormancy" period during the winter months.
Deadheading Shrub Roses
Because shrubs only produce flowers from new growth, trimming them back will make more branching and new growth, which increases the potential quantity of blooms.
Watering your roses is still important during the winter months. Even if your area does not normally get snow or ice, cold wind and air can pull moisture out of the rose's canes – meaning the soil moisture can also be depleted. Check your soil on a warmer day and give it a light watering if it's needed – do not soak.
Dormancy is when to make the move
During winter a rose is totally dormant, and because of this it doesn't matter if it's in the sun or not. Now I don't advocate shutting it in a dark closet, but an unheated room with some natural light is perfect, such as a garage near a window.
Your plant absolutely can be salvaged, even if there's a large amount of dieback. Lauren is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Roses experience dieback for a variety of reasons, but as long as more than half of your plant remains healthy, you may be able to save it with some careful pruning.
Can I cut my rose bush to the ground? Yes, but it's not usually necessary. The only reason for cutting rose bushes to the ground is if all of the canes are either severely damaged or dead. It's better to follow the steps above to give them a heavy pruning, rather than just cutting them down to the ground.
The first and most common reason is dehydration:
However, when planting new roses, it is important they are kept moist through regular watering. New roses that do not receive adequate water will delay breaking dormancy, suffer dieback, or simply wilt and die.
Newly planted roses – water every two or three days. Established roses – water once or twice a week as needed to keep the soil moist around your roses.
Many rosarians will tell you that subsequent to spring, their favorite bloom cycle is the one in mid-October. In order to make this happen in your garden, there are some steps you need to take in late August or early September.
Prune the plants down.
Prune roses down to their bare necessities so you have less to worry about surviving the winter. Keep the strongest canes and flowers intact before winterizing them. In general, try to trim your plants down to two to four feet in height. This will help new growth sprout in early spring.
Late summer to early fall: Apply a slow-release fertilizer with low nitrogen content such as bone meal to promote root growth and next year's blooms. Stop fertilizing 6 to 8 weeks before your average first frost date to prevent new growth from being damaged by frost.
By adding coffee grounds to your roses, you create a barrier that will keep pests away and allow your rose bushes to thrive. So if you're wondering whether coffee grounds are good for roses, the answer is a resounding yes! Coffee grounds are an inexpensive and readily available organic fertilizer for your roses.
Give your roses 1 to 2 inches of water each week in a single watering session from early spring through fall. Increase the frequency to every three or four days in hot and dry weather. Porous soils will also benefit from additional deep soakings.
Roses that grow outside need to be watered or they will die in a few days. Roses that grow inside are a bit more forgiving, but they will wilt after about a week or two without water. Additionally, other factors, like the type of rose you have and the current weather, will affect how long a rose lasts without water.
It's usually best to avoid watering your rose bushes during the heat of the day. Try to get in the habit of watering them first thing in the morning before the sun gets too high. This lets foliage dry off by the time the cooler evening air gets to them.
Most roses can withstand a quick cold snap of temperatures down to 10 degrees F, but it is best to protect them if you expect an extended period of time when temperatures dip under 20 degrees F. The amount of protection your roses need depends on the climate in which you live.
Yellow leaves, wilting, drooping, and stunted growth are the symptoms of overwatering. The overwatered roses can be repotted to improve aeration and drainage. The overwatered roses can have black, mushy roots that produce an unpleasant odor due to root rot.
Pinch or cut off the finished flower, just below where the base of the flower joins the stem. Leave any remaining buds or blooms to continue flowering.
Give them what they need– Generally speaking, roses require at least 6 hours of full sun a day (preferably in the morning), a well-drained and nutrient-rich soil, and moderate amounts of water. Water should only be applied directly to the root zone, not to the leaf surface.
Deadheading is the act of cutting off old blooms to encourage new ones. While roses will certainly bloom again if you don't deadhead, it is true they will rebloom quicker if you do. I generally just snap the the old blooms off when they are finished or do a bit of grooming and re-shape the bush when I'm deadheading.