| Your dream roses have been grafted onto a hardy rootstock. When winter weather is too severe, the hybrid tops can die down to below the graft. The following spring, any new growth that emerges will come from the rootstock. There's nothing you can do to recover the dream roses but you can help protect the remaining ones. When weather cools in the fall, mound some straw or fallen leaves up around the base of your roses to protect the graft from being damaged. Mound it up at least 6" above the graft. That way, if the canes die down to 6" above the graft, you'll still have enough of the grafted variety left that it will be able to produce new growth in the spring. Best wishes with your dream roses! |
