Millie, a light frost won't kill them...just makes them wilt. But since the time to bring them in anyway would be so close, I'd probably go ahead and take the cuttings.

Kaye, I could do that and take a chance with the rest of the plant. If we don't get a killing frost while I am gone, I could cut off the whole top when I get back. I plan to use a frost-proof, old time, Ice House to hold the cuttings in. don't think they need light without leaves...hope not, anyway.

I know you heat your greenhouse, so you can pot up your cuttings early. I will have to wait a bit later to pot mine up.

Wondering if I might get away with placing a couple of square bales of hay over/around the old root ball? Perhaps mulch out beyond the bales of hay? I could cover the whole thing with black plastic to keep it from getting soggy over winter. With another mild winter, I might get away with it.

How's the mist set-up going?

The winterizing sounds like it will work. I used a 5 gallon bucket, upside down over the rootball with plenty of mulch and mine came thru winter fine. The hay idea would probably work better. We make a cold frame out of bales and they do a great job with the roses in pots.

Ron has the entire mister full and is putting flats around the edges on the RR ties! Can't seem to stop him..some are already rooted in 3 weeks.

I think the root balls will be just fine with a little mulch. Mine have come back without anything. The cutting should be fine without light. Just check the water every so often. Just try it out and you know where to get more if you lose them.

Kaye, I saw your hay bale cold frame..think you posted a picture of it once. I made one for starting garden plants once in Oklahoma...didn't have anything else to work with and couldn't find some of the plant varieties I wanted down there. Don't remember how I elevated the flats under the glass, but it worked fine with a couple of old windows. If Ron keeps that up, you may have to expand the hay bale cold frame for this winter. Is this mist system working better for him than the one in the greenhouse...or is it just to expand the season?

beerhog, thanks for the reassurance. I do worry about out-of-sight-out-of-mind with those cuttings. I don't seem to stay on top of things as well any more. We shall see how it goes. It will really be hard to cut it back if it is full of buds. I had one round of 20 blooms on it at one time...pretty impressive.