Although roses tend to grow best under warmer temperatures, however, that’s not to say that they won’t grow well during the cold season.
Take English roses for example, this variety is tolerant and healthy by nature and will cope with winter weather without fuss.
Struggling to care for roses during winter, one woman took to the Gardening UK Facebook page to ask for some advice.
Posting a picture of her mum’s sad-looking potted rose plant, Alex Scrine said: “Any tips on looking after my mum’s rose plant during the cold months?
“I’ve been taking off the damaged leaves, but not sure what else I can do.”
Taking to the comments section, two group members suggested that the plant needs mulching and pruning.
Elena Kantu said: “Leave outside, after adding a layer of mulch till the pot is full. If accessible by rain do nothing more.
“Once February rolls around you can give the plant a prune. You can do this up until March.”
Mulch helps to hold in moisture for rose bushes, saving on the amount of watering that is needed.
The mulch also stops, or at least discourages, weeds from coming up in rose beds and robbing the moisture, not to mention keeping the weeds and grass from robbing the nutrients intended for rose plants.
Aaron assured: “Don’t panic roses are very hardy. Mulch the base if you can, then at the end of February/beginning of March cut down to a third.
“Yes, this feels drastic but the flower will grow back quick and better because of it.”
Lee Burkhill, otherwise known as the “Garden Ninja”, agrees that roses need to be pruned back by a third.
He claims that roses should be pruned in February – just before spring. However, the only exception to this is climbing roses.
Climbing roses should be pruned in Autumn instead, once the plant has done flowering.
To prune roses in February, Lee insisted gardeners follow his four tips for a foolproof method.
1. Remove those dead, damaged or diseased stems with clean and sharp secateurs
2. Prune out any crossing stems
3. Cut back one-third of the previous growth to an outward-facing bud
4. Always mulch afterwards to ensure the rose is well-fed to recover
