Greenhaven - they're definitely not feeding the plant. As far as I know, there's no photsynthesis going on and won't be until the new leaves come out. But I don't worry about them at all. And I don't even remove the diseased leaves any more. But then I've swapped out most of most of the roses that get diseased in my area anyway.

Some plants that are biennuals will grow again next growing season, to produce the seeds that are the reason all plants grow. People, in the northern areas of the world, that see things such as squash, pumpkin, tomatoes growing as volunteers are seeing seeds germinate and grow, not the plants growing back from roots left in the ground. Many people will insist that all plant debris must be removed from the garden because insect pests could overwinter, which they can, but they fail to understand that the predators of those insect pest can also overwinter there and removing that debris also can remove that winter cover for those beneficial insects.

do they keep growing if you mow over them and the tops are cut? i know it sounds dumb, but i am curious! hubs mowed everything down, and we had leeks, carrots, beets some other kinda stuff in our catch all garden, some i knew had grown, but i didn't know if it had stopped and died after hubs mowed it down. now i have everything in their own box, and DARE him to mow them!! **mean grinn** no weeds grow there though!! LOL ~Medo that is weird Rjinga!! all kinda stuff grew in mine, but no winter, although i didn't plant any, i didn't even think of it **snapping finger**

Nope. It's the perfect time.