They will continue to grow until you get the first frost. If your roof has a large overhang this may protect them from milder frosts, coupled with heat given off by the house. I think if you just do as you are thinking and do not let them dry out you will be fine. If the winter looks to be unusually cold you may want to bank against the containers with mulch, compost, straw, etc., anything that would have some insulating properties. Your idea of keeping them out of the wind will go a long way in them coming through the winter in good shape.

I also saw at a local nursery where they're burying their large pots in the ground. This is similar to banking the containers. some people just use filled leaf bags as protection.

Thanks guys! My overhang is just average, but I do have tea olives planted along the back of the house. Here, they get huge, like red tips. They are about 7 ft and slightly staggered...they are not mature so there is some open space between them. I think I will line them up behind the shrubs. That will also help with the wind, but allow the rain to hit them. I am addicted to pine bark fines mixed with equal parts cheap potting soil. It allows for excellent drainage, so I am not worried about water retention. I root my cuttings in the yard in pine bark fines in dappled light. (In pots) they get whatever comes their way. Today we had a big storm, couple inches rain in a very short period, I wasn't worried about rot because they drain so fast. I do have a few 1 x6 x 12 boards that I can put against my pots and maybe put some pine straw around them and over them. (If we get a hard freeze). I guess i was more concerned about the cuttings that haven't been rooted as long. I haven't rooted many roses in the past and usually plant them out in the fall. We are fortunate that we have great weather. Heck, most Thanksgiving s we are in shorts! Had a few Christmas in the 70s.

I have to say that I would rather leave them out. I am the type that would kill them if I had to keep them inside. I am one of those compulsive folks that can't leave something alone....I would literally kill them with overcare! Lol

Roseguy, question, I have a piece of that plastic clear roofing, that I can prop against the back of the house over my young rooted plants...do you think that will help protect them? Is it necessary? You can see in the picture that I kinda rigged it up to help block super strong rain (when I first started cuttings) I drilled 4 holes in it and used bungie cords to attach it to a piece of fence panel...lol...don't laugh at me! I can take it off the fence panel and use it propped against the house and put my more delicate rooted babies under it. I also thought maybe I would get a dozen bales of straw and butt my roses against the house, then put the bales against the pots. When things warm up, I can tear the bales apart and use as mulch right where they are! Am I over thinking this?? Thoughts?

I saw this pic and thought of you! Looks like your idea would work , especially for cold nights all you would have to do it put it on top of your bales . Just use your roof piece instead of the glass windows .

Better than being a crazy lady in her bathrobe with slippers freezing while she drags pots in and out of the garage ! Haha

Wow! These are two fantastic ideas put together! I bet that plastic could also be used to help shield transplants and such in really sunny places if you get it in an opaque finish. I'm going to look into this, especially for my large pots that I plan to overwinter in the coal cellar.

YES!! Lilyfinch, I know I'll be running and checking all the time...gracious what we do for out plants!

Vaporvac, they have it in all colors, some are darker and they would certainly protect plants. My sheet is 12 ft. long. Some of the colored ones were cheaper!

I always just cover well with leaves. I put the younger pots in the center, as well as the more tender variety's, and put the more cold hardy and older roses to the outside, then cover them with leaves when we are supposed to start getting too cold. One really cold year I wrapped them with burlap to hold the leaves in better and had sticks in the ground for the burlap to go around. I've lost only one rose over the years of doing this, and I figured it wasn't meant for me to have it. I know leaves are supposed to cause rot or something but I've never had a problem with it since I only do this during the cold weather and take most of the leaves out, except a few for mulch, and I have never had a problem doing it. I just collect leaves from kind people who rack them off the side of the road :) This may not work for you but it does for me. I hope this helps you.

Do you have them under any type shelter or just out in the open? Sure sounds easier!!

I have them under a large big leaf oak tree

Alana, I have a big giant sweetshrub that is open underneath like a tree. I could so do that with my larger ones. Maybe just put the smaller against the house so heavy rain/wind won't float them out of the pot. Just made my life so much easier. Sending your stuff today!! d