There is not universal agreement that deadheading decreases winter hardiness. I have read arguments, in the American Rose, that suggest the extra sugar and other nutrients required to produce hips might actually decrease winter hardiness if you don't deadhead. In any case, I've read only arguments, never actual experimental results. I guess I would argue that most of the winter damage that I see occurs in late winter, long after any of my roses, deadheaded or not, would have achieved full winter acclimation. I say give it a try and then let us know if you can see any difference. (I'm beginning to sound like the grumpy old rosarian that I guess I really am).

I've noticed it's OK to deadhead my roses in fall. Even when I did not used to deadhead them in fall, the roses kept producing new leaves and buds until the first freeze. The first freeze would kill the new growths, and later the roses developed canker in the place of the killed new growths and on the tips with hips. It is not recommended to deadhead roses late in season so the roses would get a message to go dormant, but in my garden, many roses do not go completely dormant and keep some green leaves until next spring.

I go through this dilema every fall. In the "old" days you weren't supposed to deadhead prior to a month (at least) of the average hard freeze. In theory that translates into no deadheading after october 1st. But that means that the best weather for growing roses here (fall) is almost totally eliminated as September can still be hot and the roses not at their best yet. Of course all these musings don't seem to matter to the roses as they continue to sprout new growth regardless of the "rules". I'd say to go ahead and deadhead, just don't prune down as low as you would in spring. You don't want any major new canes to emerge this late in the year.

What interesting experiences. That is why I love this forum. The old maxims are challenged everyday by people in the real world. I like to break rules every now and then.

i doubt if it makes any difference. i break more than my share of the rules.lol. i fertilize late summer and early fall. i can't speak for anyone else, but my roses grow better in the fall than any other time of year.

me too len! This is the first time this year I have a decent flush!

IME, even if you don't deadhead, the roses will put out new growth after the flower fades. They are probably slower at it this time of year because of less sunlight. So either deadhead or not, your choice.

If you do have roses that set hips, I'd leave them now so you will have nice hips to look at all winter. I have one rose that has nice hips, but also has new blooms!