Rose Blogs

We humans can choose to spend winter-time having a great deal of fun that is limited to winter. For example, skiing and building snowmen. But winter is not exciting to all life on earth…like your roses.

Hopefully, you did your research before you planted your roses to discover beautiful roses that thrive in your climate. But maybe, just maybe, you were so happy to be planting roses that you just went ahead with the prettiest rose you could find. Well, there is still a chance that this may work in your favor, but only if you were drawn to certain types of roses.

True, you can winterize most roses and they will still be there in the spring. It is also true, however, that some roses that are more equipped to get through winter like others. If you have a sad experience with your roses this year, after you recover from the sorrow, you can start planting roses that have the greatest survival rate.

In case you live in one of the tougher hardiness zones, you will do good to plant Albs or Rugosas. These are by far the best roses to grow in harsh climates. They are extremely popular in Alaska and the Canadian interior. And since these areas suffer some of the most severe winters in on the continent, Rugosas and Albs will most likely work for you as well.

These roses are viral fighters of the cold weather and produce wonderful bushes with full blossoms. Some are even completely free from diseases and others easily live through a minor infestation or two. They also are not choosy about the ground they are planted in. Even if they are not planted in rose friendly soil, they tend to thrive anyway.

Shrub roses are hearty characters too. They grow as thick skinned bushes that can withstand some discomfort. They have a good reputation as being disease resistant and reliable. They are known to make it through the winters with a little bit of help. Their perfume is a delicate fragrance emitted from the bright yellow blooms.

Some of the roses that have impeccable reputations are the Hansa Rugosas, Prairie Dawn Parkland and the Martine Frobisher Canadian Explorer. The Hansa is crimson in color, a variety of Rugosas that bursts with a savory scent that can be smelled before you reach it. It can live without much attention at all. You only need to admire its beauty and perform minimal maintenance duties.

The Prairie Dawn shrub carries a mild scent and grows to around 4 to 6 feet in width. It too can be a strong Rose that often steals the show and sometimes even a little turf, from other roses. You can give it a spot light of its own.

The Martin Frobisher is another hardy rose plant with a mild fragrance; its hearty limbs are filled with elegant pink blooms. You can admire this one for many years to come. This rose will see you through to the spring.

There are a lot of more roses that manage just fine in less than perfect hardiness zones. You may not be able to grow those desired Tea Roses, but you will still have buckets of roses. Ones that perceive the winter and will then be waiting on the other side for you next year. You just have to look for them. There are a lot of tough roses out there waiting to be planted and loved.

If you still want to grow delicate roses in zones that are not so delicate, you can give it a shot. You can start by growing them in pots that can be placed in warm places, like a basement. The pot itself will keep some of the cold out, but you will have to be very alert for when the plant needs to be rescued from outside.

Never leave your roses to fend for them selves. Shield them for the winter and perform the duties you need to relevant to your hardiness zone. You should not expect the roses to do all of the work. It has to be a team effort. If you are nice to your roses there is a higher chance that they will be good to you.