Nick: How has your method has worked out for you in previous years?

It seems different every year cuz some years we have 'normal' temps for us, other times it is much colder than normal. This year we had below normal temps (20s and even a tad lower), then 40s & 50s, then 20s again, now 40s in the next # of days.

That is very interesting.

I have another question.

You reported that you typically put rose collars around your roses and fill them half way with mulch by December 10th. Has this practice successfully winterized your roses in past years?

What kind of mulch? Honestly I never cover my roses and I live in Canada where we go below zero often in the winter . In Calagry where winters are brutal I just bought roses that are suited to the climate so more sub zero roses . I think mulch carries stuff with it that is probably why you have issues in the spring . I think if you must then use peat moss instead .

Rifis, Patricia---YES, this practice works. This has protected my roses for 30 years. With the ups & downs in temps this year, that was my concern, My concern is not how I winterize or what I use, but because of the ups & downs of temps this season as to when it is safe to do it. It's never a good idea to cover up/winterize when you get 40s temps which could cause disease.

Excellent.

One would be hard pressed to answer ”no” to your question ( “It will be in the 40s for a number of days until December 12th. Will do this then. Does that seem okay”) in light of your long experience.

By the way: Patricia did not ask if your practice works for you.

rifis, I understand Patricia did not ask if my practice works, but she did mention that she doesn't cover her roses despite how cold it gets & to use peat moss. That's why I felt the need to say my practice works (meaning to collar them & use mulch, not peat moss). My practice works, but the question was mainly about WHEN to do it if the temps keep roller coasting from 20s to 40s the last couple weeks. I plan on doing it December 14th as we will have temps in the mid 40s up to then.

I find that with just putting a 10" or so collar around the rose often is enough protection here in central Michigan. When the winter is damp and continues to have up & down temperatures, any mulch tends to just rot the stems down to the base of the plant. However, the enclosure provided by the collar allows fresh air while also protecting the plant.

That's interesting rosesmi5a. I've never had the rose stems rot, but never tried just a collar. I could see how the collar surrounding the rose could help with the wind.

I’m in z5a WI, I put mulch down when I can’t get a shovel in the ground and we’re not warmimg up above freezing. I mound 8” only on hybrid teas or first year roses.