Miniature roses (Rosa chinensis “Minima”) produce diminutive, fully formed roses on small bushes. These roses grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. Most mini roses grow no more than 18 inches tall, and the flowers are rarely more than 1 inch across. They make an eye-catching addition to flower beds or as a container plant. Preparing a mini rose bush properly for winter ensures that it will return next summer with healthy foliage and abundant blooms.
Stop all fertilizer applications in late summer. Later-season fertilization can result in tender new growth that is more prone to winter damage.
Trim off all the dead and wilting flowers from the rose bush with a pair of bypass shears, but do not prune back the stems in fall. Remove the old flowers and any plant debris on the ground from the bed so that pests and disease organisms don't overwinter in plant litter.
Reduce watering as the rose bush loses its leaves and goes dormant. Provide just enough water so the soil doesn't dry out completely until the plant enters full dormancy. Once dormant, the rose bush usually requires no irrigation until growth resumes in spring.
Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch over the soil to provide insulation and prevent weed growth. Pull the mulch 2 inches back from the stems so that it doesn't touch the base of the plant.
Things You Will Need
- Although not necessary in mild climates, you can overwinter potted miniature roses indoors or in a garage. Water potted roses just enough in winter so that the soil doesn't dry completely.
- Like most roses, miniature roses should be pruned in late winter before new growth begins. Miniature roses tolerate heavy pruning, which means that you can shear them back to the desired shape or you can trim back individual stems.
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