knock out roses

Question

How do I prepare for winter with my roses?

Answer 1

Knock outs are very hardy but it is important that they go into dormancy well-watered. A dry plant is susceptible to winter die-back. Stop fertilizing and don't prune in the fall. When the ground is frozen, put 4 inches of mulch over the crown (and remove in early spring). The idea of winter mulch is not to keep the roots/crown warm. It is to minimize freeze and thaw cycles. That's it!