I planted my Teasing Georgia this spring, and it has done wonderfully. It is going to be a climber, and the canes are all about 6 feet at this time.
Now that the dormant season looms near, I need advice on getting it put to bed properly. Any suggestions? I am in zone 5 (Nebraska)

ooh, you have my conundrum... what to do with a climber in our horrific zone! I've seen lots and lots of climbers here doing OK, but I haven't gotten a single Austin to live for me, so I can't help you there.

I'd just suggest mulching the living snot out of it.. at least a foot deep of mulch around the base of the rose. That's about how thick I mulch all my roses. Last winter was a nasty one for me here... too cold to water all winter and winter lasted FOREVER! Personally, this is what I would do: not prune it at all until spring: When the forsythias bloom, time to prune. That way you don't have winterkill too low to the rootball. You'll lose some of the canes to winterkill, but if you prune down too low, it might be too strenuous on the poor rose. I never prune my roses after Labor day, that way there's plenty of cane that is high enough for winterkill to stay away from the root system. Only those that I did not plant deep enough (budded roses need to have the bud union at least 2-3" below the surface) didn't make it. One of my Blue Girls stayed green all winter long, but then again, it was about 4' tall and had about 18" of mulch around it's base (did NOT want to lose that rose!!!). Maybe, maybe on really really REALLY cold days cover it with a blanket (frost blankets are good down to 24 degs)?

Hey Toni, Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it! I figured I probably shouldn't prune until next spring...
I am planning on mulching it thick, I fear it may not have been planted deep enough by my well meaning hubby. We too had a terrible, snowy ,cold winter and it had better not repeat itself!
I'm also considering some burlap around the mulch to hold it. As I write this, it is blooming again after sitting out the worst of the August heat. I am not really ready to give up this growing season and give in to autumn...yet...
Wish me and "Georgia" good luck!

If you can wrap the rose in sheets of burlap they will serve as wind-breakers, and help shield the canes from winter's dessicating winds. Also, make sure you water the rose well into the fall, so that it has lots of moisture around the roots to help keep the canes from drying out in the winter.

Thanks Mike. We'll get Georgia all tucked in here soon! I'll be sure to keep watering into the Fall.
It has been SO windy here lately. So annoying, we've had weak weather systems moving through and not producing any rain, but a few brief downpours, and dribbles, and mist.
We have a flash flood watch today... so far nothing but a warm, humid bluster...

Also, be sure to stop deadheading now. That let's the canes "harden off" - a process by which the moisture in the canes turns into a sort of anti-freeze before winter sets in.

I haven't found it here, but Steve swears by FreezPruf or something like that. Not 100% sure what it is, but I'm guessing it's like a liquified wax that you spray on the canes to help prevent the dessication of the canes. Don't really need or want Rose Jerky, that's for sure.

OK, we've given advice, now for payment: Pictures! Wanna see!!!!!!! :) :)

Actually the name is Wilt Pruf.

I put a pic of my young Teasing Georgia in the data base...

I also wait until spring to prune any canes and let the roses form hips after Labor Day. I pile peat moss around the base of the plant and hope for the best. I have a few tall climbers in their first year also.

My oldest Austin rose, Wildeve, has been cane hardy for the past few winters. I hope that the other Austins do as well.