News
Once more with feeling—DO NOT PRUNE YOUR ROSES NOW! I know lots of you already know this, but I get asked this question every time I work at the nursery. This area is full of newcomers who've pruned their roses in winter, so living here is a big change. We prune roses here in Spring. Period.
Of course, as I huddle inside during this cold spell, this could be the winter that changes the rules. “Normally”, (and, just what IS normal weather anymore?) our winters are known for two plant-killing tricks—very dry conditions DESPITE the snowfall, and seasonal freeze-thaw temperature patterns that keep defrosting dormant plants, thus stressing their root systems.
Roses are supposed to go dormant, and stay dormant. In the years I've been here, the freeze-thaw winters have killed off a lot of new plants, especially roses. A winter with consistently low temperatures and consistently frozen ground is actually a good thing for dormant plants. Warming up and re-freezing is very stressful for roots, especially when they're also being deprived of enough water. That's the other annoying thing about winter her--it makes a BIG difference in the survival of newer plantings if you'll water during the winter.
What a pain! Irrigation systems are shut down, so watering during the winter means keeping a spigot and hose un-frozen and usable. If winter watering is unrealistic for most of your landscaping, be sure to water your new roses. They were expensive—don't treat them like xeric planting—water those babies once a month from November through February. Water on sunny days, early in the day, and water s-l-o-w-l-y.
Sometimes, our snowfall is wet, but usually, it's “dry” snow. It has a bad habit of staying on the ground and sucking moisture out of the soil—counterintuitive, but true. Don't count snowfall as water unless it melts right away. Snow here is an extra—don't count on it.
Another thing. Mulching roses for winter is done to keep the roses cold—it is NOT done to keep them warm. Don't mulch until the ground freezes, which is usually, around mid-December.
Or, tomorrow night. That's just it—we've already had freezes this year—this is the earliest I can remember losing so many backyard tomato crops. Lots of bright red tomatoes were lost overnight at the end of September—yikes! Everything we've been taking for granted about the weather here is changing. Did you notice how odd the weather has been this year? It seems as though, in the last three or four years, “normal” is changing. Maybe this winter we'll have consistent cold and lots of wet snow.
One of the reasons I've loved living here is that the winters have always been “mild” winters. I lived for many years in Flagstaff, Ariz., at 7,000 feet—that was waaaay too much winter. I've enjoyed the winter warm spells that have made it possible to be outside on sunny days. I'm glad there isn't much snow in the valley, but lots of snow nearby—that's my idea of excellent balance. The things I like best about winter here are not conditions that are good for establishing new plants, especially roses. Sigh.
If winter is going to get colder and wetter, I won't be thrilled, but I can live with that. Wetter would be good, but drier could be the beginning of desertification closer to home. I'm not sure just what to wish for, but change is coming. The “rules” of gardening around here could be changing, too. Stay tuned.
Let's review some of the guidelines for storing plants in pots and containers. Many gardeners have turned to container gardening in order to have more control over location and soil conditions, and there are some BIG pots with BIG plants that gardeners will want to “bring in” for the winter. For tropicals and other “winter-tender” plants that have been outside for the summer, living inside your home or enclosed patio will be the best winter protection.
For plants that prefer to go dormant, such as roses, cold storage is desirable. An unheated garage or basement—some protected space that will remain cold during the winter—is the best place for your container or potted roses. They shouldn't be put there until they've gone dormant outside. Let them go through three hard freezes before you move them. Set the pots on pallets or something that raises them off the concrete floor. Keep them away from light—cover lightly if necessary--roses can survive the winter without light. If they warm up, they'll try to grow—not good! Water slowly and thoroughly once a month—don't let the soil become bone-dry, but don't keep it wet.
In the past, I think I may have said that it was OK for the garage or basement to have a window, but if the warmth from the window actually warms up the area everyday, it could be too warm for rose storage. Avoid light for your rose for the winter. Don't let your rose go dormant without sufficient water—if you haven't watered recently, water one more time the next time we have a warm spell.
I'm, frankly, cranky about this early cold weather we've had. It has been severely inconvenient for nearly everything I do, and I'm already tired of wearing long-johns in the morning. I got soaked by a sprinkler system a couple of mornings ago—the owner had forgotten to turn it off while I was working—and I went from comfortably covered for the weather to freezing cold and sopping wet in a moment—it was miserable. At the nursery, the warm and cold zones change every ten feet—I'm always over or under dressed for the conditions.
My “inner bear” does not want to go clean up the frozen veggie debris, or cut back perennials, or rake leaves—it wants to go to sleep. I vote for hibernation—I want to go dormant—find me a cave.
-----------------------------------------
Judith is a master gardener, an American Rose Society-certified consulting rosarian, and a member of the Grand Valley Rose Society. She works at Mt. Garfield Greenhouse during the growing season. She will answer your questions at rosyoldie@gmail.com.
Of course, as I huddle inside during this cold spell, this could be the winter that changes the rules. “Normally”, (and, just what IS normal weather anymore?) our winters are known for two plant-killing tricks—very dry conditions DESPITE the snowfall, and seasonal freeze-thaw temperature patterns that keep defrosting dormant plants, thus stressing their root systems.
Roses are supposed to go dormant, and stay dormant. In the years I've been here, the freeze-thaw winters have killed off a lot of new plants, especially roses. A winter with consistently low temperatures and consistently frozen ground is actually a good thing for dormant plants. Warming up and re-freezing is very stressful for roots, especially when they're also being deprived of enough water. That's the other annoying thing about winter her--it makes a BIG difference in the survival of newer plantings if you'll water during the winter.
What a pain! Irrigation systems are shut down, so watering during the winter means keeping a spigot and hose un-frozen and usable. If winter watering is unrealistic for most of your landscaping, be sure to water your new roses. They were expensive—don't treat them like xeric planting—water those babies once a month from November through February. Water on sunny days, early in the day, and water s-l-o-w-l-y.
Sometimes, our snowfall is wet, but usually, it's “dry” snow. It has a bad habit of staying on the ground and sucking moisture out of the soil—counterintuitive, but true. Don't count snowfall as water unless it melts right away. Snow here is an extra—don't count on it.
Another thing. Mulching roses for winter is done to keep the roses cold—it is NOT done to keep them warm. Don't mulch until the ground freezes, which is usually, around mid-December.
Or, tomorrow night. That's just it—we've already had freezes this year—this is the earliest I can remember losing so many backyard tomato crops. Lots of bright red tomatoes were lost overnight at the end of September—yikes! Everything we've been taking for granted about the weather here is changing. Did you notice how odd the weather has been this year? It seems as though, in the last three or four years, “normal” is changing. Maybe this winter we'll have consistent cold and lots of wet snow.
One of the reasons I've loved living here is that the winters have always been “mild” winters. I lived for many years in Flagstaff, Ariz., at 7,000 feet—that was waaaay too much winter. I've enjoyed the winter warm spells that have made it possible to be outside on sunny days. I'm glad there isn't much snow in the valley, but lots of snow nearby—that's my idea of excellent balance. The things I like best about winter here are not conditions that are good for establishing new plants, especially roses. Sigh.
If winter is going to get colder and wetter, I won't be thrilled, but I can live with that. Wetter would be good, but drier could be the beginning of desertification closer to home. I'm not sure just what to wish for, but change is coming. The “rules” of gardening around here could be changing, too. Stay tuned.
Let's review some of the guidelines for storing plants in pots and containers. Many gardeners have turned to container gardening in order to have more control over location and soil conditions, and there are some BIG pots with BIG plants that gardeners will want to “bring in” for the winter. For tropicals and other “winter-tender” plants that have been outside for the summer, living inside your home or enclosed patio will be the best winter protection.
For plants that prefer to go dormant, such as roses, cold storage is desirable. An unheated garage or basement—some protected space that will remain cold during the winter—is the best place for your container or potted roses. They shouldn't be put there until they've gone dormant outside. Let them go through three hard freezes before you move them. Set the pots on pallets or something that raises them off the concrete floor. Keep them away from light—cover lightly if necessary--roses can survive the winter without light. If they warm up, they'll try to grow—not good! Water slowly and thoroughly once a month—don't let the soil become bone-dry, but don't keep it wet.
In the past, I think I may have said that it was OK for the garage or basement to have a window, but if the warmth from the window actually warms up the area everyday, it could be too warm for rose storage. Avoid light for your rose for the winter. Don't let your rose go dormant without sufficient water—if you haven't watered recently, water one more time the next time we have a warm spell.
I'm, frankly, cranky about this early cold weather we've had. It has been severely inconvenient for nearly everything I do, and I'm already tired of wearing long-johns in the morning. I got soaked by a sprinkler system a couple of mornings ago—the owner had forgotten to turn it off while I was working—and I went from comfortably covered for the weather to freezing cold and sopping wet in a moment—it was miserable. At the nursery, the warm and cold zones change every ten feet—I'm always over or under dressed for the conditions.
My “inner bear” does not want to go clean up the frozen veggie debris, or cut back perennials, or rake leaves—it wants to go to sleep. I vote for hibernation—I want to go dormant—find me a cave.
-----------------------------------------
Judith is a master gardener, an American Rose Society-certified consulting rosarian, and a member of the Grand Valley Rose Society. She works at Mt. Garfield Greenhouse during the growing season. She will answer your questions at rosyoldie@gmail.com.
