The Don Juans should make it through winter very well with minimal die back without wrapping or mulching/mounding. If there is any die back it will mostly be skinny outer growth that will be pruned in the spring anyway. Most all climbers are more winter hardy than the average hybrid tea/grandiflora/ floribunda.

Your winterization program is very good. I don' t think peat moss is necessary at the roses' crowns, though. I like to be generous with the mulch, with big, high mounds...playing it safe.

Pine bark mulch, not nuggets (they are too big), is my preferred mulch. Check around at Lowe's/Home Depot and the like...for who has it in stock now. Some local Big Boxes here are out of the pine bark mulch.

The mulch is spread around the bed in the spring so it has a double purpose, no waste.

In spring don't take the mulch away all at once. Carefully, over the weeks as the weather permits.

A little light pruning now is OK especially long canes that may snap off during the winter from high winds. Leave as much as you can until spring is the rule.

Usually around the time when the forsythia and daffodils are just beginning to bloom is the time to prune your roses.

You will become an old hand at pruning in no time. It just takes practice.

You're only as good as your tools. Good hand pruners are a joy. Junky ones are a nightmare. Felco makes a top of the line pruner, are pricey, but worth every penny, IMHO.

Donna, how and what to prune, to be comntinued...I'm taking a break.

Do you have a garage to put the roses in?

Carol

Agree with Moses and Seil. One thing though...when I was seeking advice on this forum regarding a red climber, I was told that Don Juan wouldn't be hardy enough here (also in NE OH, Cleveland area). So you may want to go ahead with your burlap plan, though I don't have personal experience with DJ myself. I don't do any winter protecting except for some mulching in some spots, but I have different roses. You can probably find burlap at Joann Fabrics...possibly overpriced.

Donna, the best advice I can give you about pruning is:

1. Buy the best BYPASS hand pruner, a small heyhole pruning saw that cuts both ways (on the push and the pull), and BYPASS lopping pruner that you can afford. Do not buy/use ANVIL pruners. They crush the rose stems. Felco brand pruners are pricey, but top shelf, and worth every penny. Junky pruners are actually dangerous to you and damaging to the roses.

2. Study the multitude of Youtube videos on rose pruning. Go over them again and again. Then specific questions that arise can be posted here on the Roses Forum.

I wish you much success with your roses.

Thank you so very much, all of you. This helps a lot. Rose Canadian, yes they will go into the garage. Arlene, I found out about the true hardiness of Don Juan after I planted them. Such a beautiful and fragrant rose, it's a pity that local stores sell roses that aren't right for the area.

I have a system that works for me every time if you need some help.

Carol

Thank you, rosecanadian. Is the system you are referring to, pruning?

No, sorry. :) I meant how/when to put them in the garage.

Carol

Rosecanadian~ would you be able to share your system for how/when to put roses in the garage? I have not done it yet. We had a little snow last week which melted the next day. Today it is round 40 degrees and cloudy.

I would be curious to know Carol's system as well. I'll be attempting to overwinter a potted rose in the garage for the first time this year.

I am in zone 6a by the Great Lakes in NY. All my potted rose trees and climbers are already in the garage. I water them once a month. Is your garage attached?

No, summer. It is detached. Last winter was mild, so all of them lived. I know the weather is due to change soon. It was 57 today. But I am living on borrowed time. Hope rosecanadian answers soon.

Here is my method that I posted in my city's Rose Society. So the times are suited for here. :) I have a 100% success rate with 54 potted roses. :)

Carol's
Method of Overwintering Potted Roses in Garage

•
Keep
deadheading until it's time for the roses to go into the garage. I give my last
dose of fertilizing around the 2nd week of September.

•
In
October, start watering a little bit
less so the roses can experience some dryness.

•
When
the night time temperature gets to about -6C it is time to move the pots into
the garage. If it’s just one or two nights of low temperatures, I usually
leave them outside…but you can get a bit of blackening of the canes.

•
Do not
cut the plant down. Leave it as it is, but remove the leaves right to the
cane. Give the rose one last really good
water before using a dolly to move the pots into the garage.

•
Cover
the roses with old thick blankets, layers of old flannel sheets or old sleeping
bags when the outside temperatures get to about -20C.

•
The
roses should experience darkness. If you
have windows, then cover them with. It doesn't matter if the garage door
is opened and closed.

•
Around
March, check to see if the pots have dried out. If they have, give each
rose about 1/2 cup water if they’re in a big pot (55 L are what mine are and
about 22” across the top). If they’re in
a smaller pot, then you should probably check them earlier – maybe early
January and only give them ¼ cup or less of water. Once you start watering, you should continue
once every month.

•
As the
weather starts to warm up in the spring, the blankets can be removed.

•
Once
the temperature gets to about 5C outside on a regular basis you can move the
rose outside during the day, and recover with blankets to give protection
overnight, or move back into the garage for the night. Moving the roses
back into the garage is preferable to covering them…but if you have too many
roses to make that feasible, then covering will do.

•
Water
well once the pots get moved outside. The water will help protect the
roots from cold.

•
Caveat,
my garage is dry walled and probably insulated.

Hope that helped,

Carol