Do roses need special care in October?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.October care 'preps' roses for winter and primes them for spring. This transitional month requires some targeted steps, depending on your climate zone. As temperatures cool, I focus on pest prevention and root protection in my garden. Appropriate October care limits winter dieback and guarantees vigorous spring growth.
Pest Prevention
- Remove all fallen leaves to eliminate overwintering insects
- Apply dormant oil spray to smother scale and mites
- Clear debris where black spot spores survive winter
Root Protection
- Apply phosphorus-rich fertilizer for root development
- Water deeply before ground freezes in cold zones
- Install rodent guards around cane bases
Conditional Pruning
- Conduct only light shaping of hazardous branches
- Never stimulate new growth before frost
- Remove dead or diseased wood immediately
Timing aligns with natural signals in your garden. My October care begins when the oak leaves drop and nights are consistently below 50°F because we want to avoid jumping the gun and inducing tender growth ahead of true winter dormancy.
Fertilizer selection is important as we move into fall. Low-nitrogen formulas will not encourage top growth if applied in late summer. I use bone meal or rock phosphate, which promote root growth only without the development of new shoots. High-nitrogen fertilizers cause frost-tender new growth, which will die with the first freeze.
Wind protection is vital for exposed gardens. Install burlap screens facing the prevailing winds after a light shaping. My climbing roses benefit from horizontal tying, so that wind doesn't damage them over the winter. Tie up all canes ahead of storms to prevent branches from breaking.
Record your October activities for later reference. I keep garden notes documenting first frost dates, pest challenges, and how I protected plants. This creates a record of the methods that worked well for you in your microclimate, year after year.
Read the full article: When to Prune Roses: A Complete Guide
