As winter weather fast approaches, you want to protect delicate plants like non-hardy roses. Insulate your roses against cold weather with shredded autumn leaves.
Image from cedwardmoran.
You likely already raking up these leaves from your yard, which makes it easy to use them for plant protection. You can shred them with your lawn mower, or your leaf blower may also come with a shredder attachment. Here’s how to insulate different types of rose plants with shredded leaves:
- Tree roses (standards): Put four stakes in the ground just beyond the root zone of the rose. Wrap burlap around the stakes and secure it with string. Add the insulating layer of shredded leaves between the plant and the burlap.
- Rose shrubs: Place a cylinder of cardboard, metal or plastic around the shrub. Fill this cylinder with shredded leaves.
- Graft: Mulch shredded leaves to about 30cm higher than the base of the plant to protect the bud union and rose crown.
- Climbing roses: Cover the trellises with burlap, then fill it with shredded leaves to insulate the plant canes against winter wind.
By insulating your dormant roses, you’ll protect against damage that cycles of freezing and thawing can cause. For more tips on how to winterise your roses, check out the full guide linked below.
Preparing Your Garden for Winter [Better Homes and Gardens]
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