Preparing Tea Roses for Winter

Tea roses should be cut back and loosely bound

Hybrid tea and floribunda roses are not winter hardy in Minnesota. Many people, however, do not want to treat them like annuals and prefer to do what is necessary to ensure they survive and can be enjoyed for another year. You have a few options. All of them begin with the same step, cut back the rose to 12-18 inches and carefully pull up the branches and loosely bind together with twine.

Next you can place straw around the plant and cover with a rose cone that you “pin” to the ground with some sod staples or stakes. Another similar option is to use chicken wire or hardware cloth in place of a rose cone. Form a ring about 1 foot out beyond the rose and at least 6 inches higher. Stuff that with straw. A straw-filled ring of chicken wire protects much like a rose cone

The last option is called the Minnesota Tip Method. You start with the first image above. Then you carefully dig around the roots to loosen them. Dig a trench that is slightly long then the rose shrub is tall, and deep enough so it can lie down completely. Take the soil from the trench and pile it around and on top of the rose. Then put 6-12 inches of straw on top of that. You can also cover the straw with a tarp that you pin down. This is very helpful if you happen to be in a windy location.

The Minnesota Tip Method