Prune any weak, damaged or diseased branches off of the rose bush. Also rake any dead leaves around the base of the plant. If leaves are left around the base of the rose they may harbor disease spores or insect eggs and larvae.
If you own a rose tree you may need a winter sleeve. Tree roses are actually rose bushes grafted onto long rootstock trunks. To protect the graft union over the winter cut off the sleeve of an old sweater or sweatshirt. Prune back the rose’s top growth in late fall so that you can slip the sleeve over the branches and around the graft union on the trunk below. Then stuff the sleeve with peat moss, dry leaves, or straw for insulation; tie a plastic bag over it to keep out ice and snow. Remove the sleeve in early spring.
