@virginiarose .......
>>>>If you are below freezing then you would not need to water, right.
Actually, I do need to water the roses for a couple of reasons. 1) As many have posted on ATP, a well hydrated plant can withstand the cold better. My night temps have been in the 20s, but will be going down to the teens now that the regular January thaw is over. Normally, I don't have to water because it's always raining ...
and 2) modern roses never truly go dormant.
In all of the seasons, except for winter, I use the same system you have described for use of the sprinkler. I use my kitchen timer, too. In the winter, as soon as the night temps go below 28F, I put my hoses away for the winter and cover the spigots to keep the pipes from freezing. Not this year. I've only pulled out one hose and am multi-tasking while watering. There is no way I could stand there and just hold a hose. It would drive me bonkers !
Today, I got one of the street beds cleaned up while I watered out in front of my home.
My soil holds the moisture very well, especially since I mulch. I am only watering deeply about once every two weeks during the winter for this drought. It's just that it is cold out there.
Smiles,
Lyn
