Marianne's Response
How do I winter a tea rose?
I was given a large tea rose for mother’s day. It is about 3 feet tall and has been growing all summer in a pot. It has produced quite a few blossoms, in spite of the Japanese beetles which I have been picking off. Is there something I can do to preserve it for next summer? I live in Minnesota so our winters are cold. Should I cut it way back? Should I take it out of the pot. Should I try to protect it somehow? Thanks for your help.
Posted by Lenore bolfing on October 16, 2017
Marianne's Response
In your cold winter climate you will need to protect your potted rose from freezing weather. Move it to a cold but barely freezing garage or shed or turn the pot on it's side and bury the rose under two feet of soil or mulch. You can prune it back by half and remove all the foliage. In spring be sure to fertilize and move to sunlight so the rose can recover from winter dormancy. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
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