Different Kinds Of Protection

 Before you begin, it is best to clean the ground around the base of the rose of dead leaves and weeds.  Pests and disease can over winter in the dead leaves and pose a threat to the new growth of the rose the following spring. 
So to begin: 1. Put your choice of mulch around the base of the plant up to 12” on the bush. Good mulches are: oak leaves, bark, pine straw, wood chips, soil pep. 2. Do not take the soil around the rose to pile up onto it. You may take soil from another part of the yard, or use a denser mulch such as compost.  It is also appropriate to use a mixture of both soil and soil pep, or compost.  3. Remember that snow is also a great winter protection.  If you get a lot of snow then you may not need to add protection; if you do not, then you need to add some.  4. If you decide to use oak leaves (maple leaves get too mushy when wet), you may build a cage out of chicken wire to put around the rose and then fill with  leaves up to two feet tall. Or you may cover your complete garden with leaves.  If you get a lot of wind, they may not stick around! 5. If you live in the mountains in Utah, the temperatures get a lot colder. A solid curtain of fabric, or concrete blanket can be put around the roses, or on top of them, if you first cut the canes down to 10-12” so the curtain does not break them.
6. Potted roses should be put in the garage or basement, even if unheated. The temperature should be 20-40 degrees. Water thoroughly when you first bring them in. Spray with a fungicide. Keep moist just lightly; watering once a month is enough, one or two cups of water is enough. Raise off the floor. They should be placed on an inside wall, and not in a drafty area. 7. Tree roses can be burlapped; wrap burlap around a pruned rose (no long canes) with twine, fill with leaves, and tie at the top.