skip to main content

Cold nights this week/Frost

16 years ago

Hi folks... I have come across this site many times over the past 3 years as I have been learning about growing roses and thank you all for the great information.

I have been planting potted roses for the past few years on my APT. balcony but have run into problems with blackspot numerous times the past few years... BUT I think that I have finally aquired the knowledge that I need to have a successful season this year. I have read so so much information this past winter and think I FINALY understand it all... I wasn't spraying for insects when needed, prevention for disease OR properly feeding the soil with organics PLUS doing regular fertilizing in the past! I am really exited about my prospects this season with my new knowledge. :o)

I have many varieties this year already potted up in 5-10 gallon pots with a mixture of potting soil, compost, and steer manure... I also added a small handfull of bone meal. I made sure to spray lime/sulphur in mid Feb to try to kill over wintering Blackspot spors...

I gave them all a dose of 3 Tablespoons of epson salts and a soaking of fish emulsion according to directions just a few days ago. I will give them Alphalpha meal and granular fertilizer in a few weeks as I read on the Seattle Rose Society site. My roses include 4 Austins (Flastaff, Fair Biance, Abraham Darby, and Graham Thomas) also Olympiad, Double Delight, Touch of Class, Tropicana, and Veterans Honor. I also potted a few Climbers I put in 10 gallon pots (America, Climbing IceBerg, and Dublin Bay) I have a huge ground floor with a balcony overlooking an edge/cliff so have plenty of room but the soil on my 12' x 30' greenspace is only 3 inches deep since it is the top of the buildings garage... hence my only option was to enjoy roses in pots. I also receive full sun from noon until sunset (8 hours). I am going to add Barbara Streisand, and First Prize within a few weeks. I think I'll be out of room by then *wink* oy :o)

I have invested a lot of $ this season so far and I am worried about the expected frosts over the next several days. A good portion of my bushes have started to slightly leaf out... My question is do I have to apply some protection over my new rose bushes? I have read varying posts online about covering them in newspapers, paper bags, or dark plastic garbage bags for these cold nights... Am I over reacting? Will they be OK outside in temps hovering in the low 30's nightly this weekend? I'd really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you so much. Jay

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

buford
16 years ago
Jay, we just had temps of 28 here and there was some damage, but not bad. Since all of your roses are in pots, it would be best to try to move them all as close to the house as possible and them put a sheet or blanket over them. The heat from the apartment should help keep them warm.

I think 28 is the magic number. And then it's the number of hours that it stays at or below that number. Also just leaves are ok. The most damage I have is on very new soft canes. the cells get damaged from the cold and then the plant can't send moisture and nutrients to the end of the cane and it shrivels up.
paparoseman
16 years ago
Jay, I live down here in Tacoma and my potted roses went through the winter with no damage for the most part. The roses that did get some damage are all old tea roses which are not as cold hardy as modern ht's or your Austins. The hybrid teas could get some slight damage but it will not be cold long enough to do any real damage. I fully expect the Austins to get no damage from this cold snap.

Lance
Related Discussions
Bottom heat + cold air temps = increased frost damage???
Q
Comments (4)
I agree with Daves' diagnosis. Too much coddling. You took your little broccoli seedlings out of their accustomed Dickensian misery and gave them a spa treatment worthy of a Kardashian, and they suffered from culture shock.
...See More
Don't plant out too soon- possible frost/freeze next week
Q
Comments (9)
Claudia, I too was at the Farmer's Market Festival yesterday and had a blast. We bought a large dragonfly piece from the ironworks booth and just a few plants for fun: -green japenese maple for around our pond shade -sample of Carolina phlox, something I've not grown before -solomon's seal -spike moss, which looked like a neat groundcover for the shade I'm brand new to this forum and still very new to gardening... I've learned in increments over the past 4-5 years but I'm still a newbie. Should I cover any of my emerging perennials tonight, to be safe? We haven't put anything new in, but will the frost do damage to new stuff coming up?
...See More
Sustained some cold/frost damage
Q
Comments (2)
Yep, I would leave them be. If it is simply some cold damage, they will rebound nicely. Clip leaves but only if the leaf itself dies. I am confident that your plants will be fine and a week or two from now, they won't show any signs of cold exposure. Bruce
...See More
Frost protection for one week
Q
Comments (3)
Thanks for that input. One new concern I have is rain, soaking the sheets I use to cover and crushing plants, maybe then freezing if the next night is clear and evaporation is high. Really the more I think about it anything should be OK. I want the plants (just the roots really) to survive, not to thrive. One week of being covered shouldn't kill them, the risk being uncovered and getting killed by frost is worse. Are there better coverings than old sheets/blankets? I've found that two layers often helps more than one to keep the frost that 'settles' on the sheet from transferring to the leaves below.
...See More
triple_b
16 years ago
We are NNE of you and our spring has certainly been dragging its feet. The trees are starting to bud but the temps are definitely below seasonal norms. It even snowed a bit today for crying out loud. We are supposed to be DONE with snow by now!
morz8 - Washington Coast
16 years ago
triple, we had snow here today and I can practically dangle my toes in the ocean....a solid Zone 8b.

Lots of new growth on the last four roses I have yet to prune...they look just fine and haven't missed a beat, chill and all. I hope we get back to more seasonal temperatures soon, it's been a long wait this year...
jay_2008
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the helpful information everyone. :o) Jay
chuck_billie
16 years ago
I now live up near Bellingham and our weather is usually a bit colder than yours.
I've got lots in pots, even year old gallons and I've had no problems with any of them.
Oh yeah, we did get snow today.
Think Spring please.
Chuck

Related Stories

WINTER GARDENING Extend Your Growing Season With a Cold Frame in the Garden

By Paintbox Garden

If the sun's shining, it might be time to sow seeds under glass to transplant or harvest

LIFE Houzz Call: How Are You Handling the Record-Breaking Cold?

By Mary Jo Bowling

Share your tales, strategies and photos for everything polar vortex

GARDENING GUIDES Got Frost-Damaged Plants? How It Happens, and When and How to Prune

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Crispy brown leaves are a sure sign that Jack Frost has been to your neighborhood

WINTER GARDENING Fire and Ice: 8 Plants That Blaze Once Frost Hits

By Paintbox Garden

Not everything in the garden sleeps in the cold — these plants rise and shine in fall and winter, bringing bright color to beat the blahs

CONTAINER GARDENS Beat the Frost With Natural Terra-Cotta Containers

Here's how to protect your pots during the cold winter months

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Traditional Kitchen Opens Up for a Fresh Look

By Jeannie Matteucci

A glass wall system, a multifunctional island and contemporary finishes update a family’s Illinois kitchen

DECORATING GUIDES Color of the Week: Decorating With Warm Gray

By Jennifer Ott Design

Tired of tan? Getting gloomy from cool gray? Make warm gray your new go-to neutral

KITCHEN DESIGN New This Week: 4 Kitchens That Embrace Openness and Raw Materials

By Mitchell Parker

Exposed shelves, open floor plans and simple materials make these kitchens light and airy

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: Designed to Stand the Test of Time

By Bryan Anthony

Ageless beauty abounds in this elegant European-inspired kitchen in Minnesota

PATIO OF THE WEEK Water and Fire Mingle in a Canadian Front Yard

By Becky Harris

If the illuminated moat winding through this Ontario patio doesn't dazzle you, the 8-foot-wide fireplace will

Sponsored

Mosaic Design Studio

Creating Thoughtful, Livable Spaces For You in Franklin County

More Discussions

9

Where in California or in the US do think has the best rose climate?

32

Vavoom if you like orange

17

Rose Mulch HELP

3

Pumpkin Patch ;)

0