Susan, here on the Pacific Coast, where chill is almost non-existent, we do periodically have temps down to the higher 30's. It doesn't seem to bother any of the plants much -- tho it does slow the Plumerias down.

In one of our coldest winters, when we had temps down to 30 several nights running, our Chinas did some of their best blooming!

Be sure they're all well-hydrated, though.

Jeri

Susan, I would think artificially protecting your more tender roses to prolong their bloom deeper into your colder weather might be counter productive. While it may prolong your flowering period, it might also hold them more susceptible to cold damage which could happen sooner than they might be able to endure it. I'd let them be and the chips fall where they will. They take their cues from the light, temps and water levels as to what to do to get ready for what's coming. Here, where that means little regarding actual damaging conditions, continuing to encourage flowering isn't a huge issue. With your winter weather, they may be better off just leaving them be to do what they "know" to do. Kim

Susan just a county south of you and without any urban heat island effect we had our first good freeze last night. Zapped the zinnias, basil and hydrangea up close to the house as it got down to the upper 20s.

I didn't have much blooming on my young teas because I've been disbudding most everything this year, but the foliage and the tighter buds I hadn't gotten off yet look great today.

I think I'm going to just let nature take it's course and try to learn from it. I want to figure out what some semblance of "normal" is before I try to dink with it. So other than some pretty deep mulching I'm just going to cross my fingers when it comes to my new teas. (Knowing full well I may change my mind on that!!)

:sob: sad. But I knew the answer before I asked. Thanks you all! I will be that much more delighted in Lakeland! But still sad to put the garden to bed. Seems only G Nabbonand and Henriette de Snoy were bothered. But Snoy had 10 huge fat buds. sigh.
Susan

This weather is why some of us have big rolls of Remay stuffed in some nook or cranny. Remay will protect 3-5F degrees depending on which remay it is. I don't use it every year, but it has been really useful at least every other year, especially for spring growth.

I haven't used it this week as we are projected to get much colder than Nashville. What I will do with my teas (that have so much new growth that it makes me want to cry) is clean out the dead material so it doesn't fester in place through winter.

I hate the continental polar air masses that sneak down here every so often.

Yes. I'm really bummed. So I need some Remay huh? I moved those in pots to better locations but last night we got a pretty good frost, getting closer to the house.
Will buds open after a frost? Gave the freeze dried blooms to my rabbit.
Susan

Thanks for the wake up call, Susan! We've had several frosts already and been down under freezing a couple of nights. I hadn't even thought about my experimental excursion into Teas and Chinas. I just went out to check them and they all look great! Both Mutabilis and the Archduke Charles are still blooming and the Duchesse de Brabant looks quite green and healthy. I'm very pleased but I think I'll move them closer to the house for a little more protection.

Susan, only thing I can say is that I have had lots of blooms open after frost(s). Hope you have the same luck.

SCG

Susan,

The worst cold damage I have had with roses was one year when we had temps in the 60's and 70's for three weeks in January. Then one night the temp plunged to 20 degrees and Don Juan did not survive. Otherwise they seem to take the gradual cooling of autumn in stride especially if well hydrated. I am in eastern NC and have several teas and Chinas. Last winter the foliage on the Noisette Cresupule died back but the plant on own roots came back.

Thanks you all for the experience and support! Seil, have you begun the winterization? Most of my teas and noisettes are small...I sure hope my buds will bloom cause I am really getting down about not having my garden...This is the first year I've really had a "rose garden" and I have spent quite a bit of time out there every day, rain or shine. I bought a small propane heater for my screened porch out there but I'm really going to miss my roses....
There will be a huge vacancy. I plan to spend some of the time wintersowing and the rest will be indoor work...
Susan

We had 27 this morning (Saturday), which is on the borderline, but with radiant cooling also (clear sky), it probably will injure all the buds and kill the soft stems. This is three weeks earlier than normal, sob. I expect to see wilted stems and young leaves tomorrow. Petals were frozen when I checked early this morning.

I'm pretty sure that 31 F will have no affect on any rose.

Susan, thinking of you I went out and took this picture.

Appropriately named for you "Dreams Come True"

{{gwi:316747}}

Keep in mind we had our killing frost on Oct 7th and the temp highs for the past 2 weeks have been in the low 40's and lows around 30F. Right now it is 37F and several roses are still, although VERY slow, opening. Hopefully you will have some color for weeks to come.

Here is to positive thoughts......

SCG

Susan, no, I haven't done any winterizing yet. It's too soon. Even though we've had frost and freezing temps they haven't been sustained and the ground is no where near frozen yet. We'll be back up into the 50s this week and things will still be blooming out there. I didn't do any protection until the second week of December last year. It will probably be earlier this year because it's been much colder but around here you never know.

As I said, the borderline is around 27. At that temperature Friday morning, I had some damage and some roses apparently escaping damage. The new growth highest from the ground and farthest from trees was burnt, and today is wilting with dark centers. Some open flowers were hurt, others apparently not. It's not as bad as I feared, so maybe I'll have some roses well into November as usual.