Roses will stay healthy throughout winter if gardeners do one simple task (Image: Getty)
Gardners may not think there is much to do outside in winter, but making sure your roses are properly protected will ensure you get bigger blooms next year in summer.
Allen, a professional horticulturist from , has shared that one simple way to keep safe is ‘hilling up’, a simple technique that stops harsh weather from damaging the .
He said: “The most traditional way to protect rose crowns is in winter is ‘hilling up.’ This is done by mounding six to ten inches of soil or compost over the crowns of plants.
“The soil or compost should not be taken from around the bases of the plants but from another location.”
Hilling up involves mounting soil, mulch or other organic matter around the base of the rose plant to insulate it from the cold.
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Hilling up covers part of the rose to protect the roots from freezing (Image: Getty)
During winter, one of the most common reasons flowers tend to die is that the roots are constantly freezing and then thawing due to the inconsistent temperature.
This means the plant’s roots are constantly wet, which causes it to begin rotting away and attracts fungal diseases that eventually kill it.
Covering the base of roses will protect the graft union, which is the swollen area of the plant where the rose stem is attracted to the roots, to ensure the roots stay protected for the rest of winter.
All you need to do is first remove any dead foliage or rotting leaves around your roses.
Then, pile soil or compost a few inches high around the base of the plant to cover the graft union and create a mound.
All you need to do is cover roses with a few inches of soil and mulch (Image: Getty)
Next, . To give roses extra protection, add a layer of straw, leaves, or another mulch of your choice.
Allen said: “If roses were planted properly, with the graft two to three inches below the soil surface, six inches of soil over the graft should be sufficient.
“If the graft was not buried at planting or you know from past experience that a variety is particularly tender, increase the covering to eight to 10 inches.”
This simple gardening job takes roughly 10 minutes to complete, but it will protect your roses for the rest of the frosty weather, ensuring a healthy and thriving plant next year.