Name: Paul Utah (Zone 5b) Grandchildren are my greatest joy.
In my garden roses are forgiving. I have always accomplished my heavy pruning in the spring but last fall I had some health challenges and had one of my garden helpers take them all down to about 3 feet. They required very little touch-up in the spring and have been gorgeous and I didn't need to look at those ugly tall brown rose bushes all winter. I have never mounded for winter. I dead-head all summer and have steady bloom. I remove candelabras after they bloom. I don't spray and only have a little problem with aphids, thrips, and powdery mildew. I throw a little 10-10-10 around the bushes in early spring. I overhead water every few days. I would love a good snow cover this winter. Having said all of this I realize that there are different challenges for growing roses in areas different from my own. Experiment and see what works for you.
