How To Overwinter A Tree Rose In A Container
A tree rose or standard rose is created by grafting a long stem onto a hardy rootstock and then grafting a rose bush on top of the stem. Any type of rose can be used but David Austin hybrid and Old English are the most popular. Tree roses are not actually a class of roses but rather a way of growing them. A tree rose is essentially a rose bush raised on top of a tree trunk which puts the beautiful flowers at eye level. Tree roses grow up to four feet tall.
Tree roses were developed in the late 18th century in Europe. They were widely grown in the formal gardens of France in the early 19th century. During Victorian times, their popularity increased, and they were found in the gardens of nobility. The name rose standards originated there and the name later became standard roses.
Tree roses can give your garden an old-fashioned and classic look. They are great because they are fairly easy to grow and come in a wide range of colors. Plant them in a sunny location with good drainage. They need to be fertilized regularly and watered to keep the soil moist. To maintain their shape during the summer, deadhead the flowers and prune any branches that are extremely long, but don’t do your major pruning in the summer. To keep its compact, topiary shape, prune the plant in late winter or early spring before shoots start growing.
The one major drawback with tree roses is they are not winter hardy, so in the winter they will be susceptible to damage. There are two major ways to protect your plant if you live in a very cold climate (temperatures that drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
Method One: If you live in a cold climate plant your tree rose in a large container and grow them on a deck or in a landscaped area. This way you can move your tree rose and container into a garage or other protected location. It can be moved after several freezes. Try to keep the temperature where the plant is stored to around 30-45 degrees. This is to protect the graft and prevent it from breaking dormancy. Keep the watering light. The soil needs to be almost dry, just lightly moist. Do not fertilize the plant during this time. If the temperature where you are storing your plant gets too cold or varies a lot, wrap the plant and container in layers of blankets. When you start seeing growth, you can move the plant back outdoors.
Method Two: If you don’t have a location to store the plant or the plant is too large to bring it indoors you can bury it in your garden. To do this wait until the plant has gone dormant. Put stakes in the ground at the top and bottom of the plant, so you know where you planted it. You might need to prune it to fit the head of the plant in the ground. Once it is buried, cover it with loose mulch such as oak leaves or straw. In early spring, dig up the plant and repot it. You can do this when you see other roses sprouting.
With both methods, once you start seeing new growth, start fertilizing the plant.
