I would trim back any broken canes, but otherwise wait to see if there is any further damage. I take it this was not an ice storm--didn't have frigid blowing winds, or anything like that? Those are the real destroyers.

My heart goes out to you. I still remember with horror that late hard freeze we had last spring--took all summer for my garden to fully recover. In your case, maybe you will find that your snow damage is minimal. Let's all hope real hard for that!

Kate

Oh Pauline, what a heartbreaker! The snow (except for the damage done by its weight) shouldn't hurt your roses unless the temperature was below 28 or so. Let us know in the next few days how things are coming along. We frequently get snow after things start leafing out and they are usually OK unless the temp really drops low.

Yes, now that all our snow is melted and we have been having some spring-like weather, I do have some pity to spare to you.

The roses will be fine, other than the broken canes that will need to be pruned. I am assuming this snow is melting fast. The bulbs will be fine.

I know you usually don't have to worry about this, but next time a big heavy snow is weighing down your bushes (and roses), get a broom out and gently knock the snow off before any branches snap.

Pauline, I'm so sorry. I would be disappointed too! Darn snow, it is too late for that nonsense. Hugs to you.

Carla

I know what late snows can do to new growth. The storm arriving today was predicted to be bringing a foot of the wet, heavy stuff to us. I was not looking forward to it. Forecast has changed to only a few inches. Perhaps the snow dumped on you saved us?? No consolation huh? Hope your plants recover quickly :)

Pauline:

I'm so sorry to hear that. Here in CA we have had several weeks of atypically cold nighttime weather. Last night was 24 degrees here! I'm just quietly ripping my hair out over it. I did cover several of my roses which I'm hoping will help.

The weather man is talking about possible snow today and tonight with temps warming on Tuesday. A very dry and strange Spring here accompanied by MUCH whining from me. So don't feel bad about venting. Sounds as though you have every reason to be aggravated.

Kate

Your deciduous stuff is leafed out already??

I'm south of you in Olympia WA and nothing's leafed out yet! Well the Indian plum is, and a few other things are starting, but the maples and alders are still mostly bare.

We got about 1/2" of snow yesterday morning, and it was very light and fluffy, and melted off by noon. Not enough new growth on the roses yet, or enough weight to the snow, to do any damage.

Prune just to clean up the broken spots. So yes that means clip them back to the next bud. Don't leave the broken off stub, it won't grow from a stub.

And, don't worry about it. I noticed yesterday morning as the snow was falling thick and fast that all the birds were going on about their spring business as if nothing unusual were going on.

It never went below freezing here, and even new growth on roses can take light frost.

I'm so sorry!!--I do love snow but not at this time of year----I do hope you don't fine too much damage.

Please keep us posted.

Florence

Pauline, we had it here too but not as much, more like 2" followed by a day of hail, sleet, ice pellets. After watching the weather forecast on the news (late news :))Friday night, I went out and moved two tiered carts of cuttings and young perennials, a couple of seed flats into the carport.

My roses look OKish, I'm more concerned with budding out hardy fuchsias, blooming dicentra, others. This has been one weird 'Spring'....we've had very little sun or warmth here. My niece teaches at Lake Stevens (Everett area) and they sent kids home early on Friday....a snow day. In April!

OMG, I'm so sorry Pauline! How awful. Your poor plants! I hope everything recovers for you.

I understand your frustration. Our weather is coming from your area. We heard yesterday that it could snow in our area down to 2000 ft today (I'm at around 1500). It was around 45° last night. This morning it's a good 10° cooler, but there's not a cloud in the sky and looking out the window it looks beautiful out there. Step outside and freeze yer butt off! It's so weird. The winds were so bad last night, my windchimes next to the house were being slammed into the house. I haven't gone outside yet, but looking out, I can see a lot of my irises laying on the ground. They're just beginning to open up. This is a real bummer!

So sorry to hear your roses were damaged! I'm in the lower mainland, but out towards the Fraser Valley and we had snow (600ft) but only an inch or so. The overnight temps are a few degrees below freezing though. The roses have leafed out, but look ok. The delphiniums are about 10-12 inches high and they look a little worse for wear - I'm hoping they'll be ok. My biggest concern is my hummers that arrived back mid March. They're getting their little tail feathers frozen off! I'm not too sure how low temps they can take.

It really is discouraging to wait all winter to be able to enjoy spring and then Mother Nature gives us the back of her hand! Oh well, better weather is on the way....I hope...

Pauline we had snow too up in the 'sunny okanagan'. Speaking personally it didn't have any adverse effects. We are about a month behind you so we have not started baring our tender ones to the elements yet. My potted roses were under cover of the house overhang. My tenders were in my greenhouse and seem fine, even the basil and tomatoes. The snaps that i DID put out in the garden I checked on and they look perky, as though the snow just gave them a nice drink. Go figure. And the hills look even greener from the nitrogen from the snow. It has been a bit dry here. It is melting fast.
STILL I would prefer seasonal norms and not Ma Nature going all hormonal on us.

The snow has arrived here. It is coming down pretty thick :) Had hoped to get in a little more pruning today. Oh, well.... We need the moisture so I'll thank you for not keeping all the snow in BC. One good thing, temperature was supposed to get colder this morning. It is 25°F and that shouldn't hurt the new growth much.
Feels a little strange. I got sunburned out in the yard yesterday. The snow felt good on my arms wandering around out there for a few minutes. Even Duke was looking at me like I was outta my cottonpick'n mind.

Sorry Pauline,
Hopefully it will just melt and not cause more damage.
Thanks for taking all the Snow for us. We had 85 today 4 cold hardiness zone from you . I had to give the potted roses a drink so they didn't cook.
Samuel

Pauline, I'm very sorry about your late snow storm. I hope the damage is minimal, still I know it'll set you back a few weeks more for growth. You have my sympathy.

conditions are supposed to improve after today. So sez Environment Canada. Maybe by the end of the week it will feel like (gasp!) late April!

Hey Guys, thanks! I really did not expect any responses, as I know there are often so many folks here who have worse rose problems than I do, but you did not mind me venting. Much appreciated and so where your comments.

Reg you are right. I was not too clear. The only trees that are leafed out our the Oriental Japanese Plums which have blossoms as well as leaves right now. We also have three Cherry trees blossoms only. So those six trees were bearing to the ground. We have mostly cedar trees here with the odd maple and alder.

Anyway, snow just about all gone, and surveyed damage which we can live with and in a few weeks from now it will all be fogotten. :)

Kayli, My daughter lives in Tsawwassen and they did not get anything. :)

The sun was out today and it felt so good, I had been craving it for so long, as I have mentioned before, we are in total shade in the winter. I succummed to temptation, unfolded the sunbed from last year, plonked it in the rapidly melting snow on our sundeck and lay down in it for almost an hour, and fell asleep. Boy it did me the world of good.

Hope you all had a great weekend!
Thanks again, Pauline.

the sun was shining just as it was going down and it was quite chilly. A couple more nights of below freezing it looks like. We should be more or less done with freezing nights by now. I covered everything again and I am heating up some rocks in the oven to put in the mini-greenhouse so nothing gets bit. Crazy, it was gorgeous last weekend and snowing this weekend. HOPEFULLY it will move on into spring now that Old Man Winter has taken one last kick at the cat.

We woke up to about an inch of snow yesterday in the Willamette Valley foothills. It didn't get very cold, and the most damage was to my tulips which got bent over. I hope they recover and stand up straight. My roses are just starting to leaf out and didn't get damaged. Most of the perennials including delphiniums got squashed, but are recovering. It has been unseasonably cold and all my plants are growing slowly anyway, so not much harm done. It's very unusual to get snow here at all, especially this late in the spring. I do have some pretty blooms of dicentra, pulmonaria, viola and pansy and primula as well as dafs and tulips. But I'm tired of wearing sweaters!
Kathy

It has been so unseasonably cold here! We were dusted, then bombarded with freakish hail and sleet. My roses all seen to be OK, I'm just worried about my clems and other tender new growth. Grrr!!!!! I am so ready for nice weather! Hope all your stuff is OK Pauline and all you other North-westerners!