In her weekly newsletter, Growing Wonder with Felicia Alvarez: Simple Tips for Thriving Roses, Gardens & Homes, Felicia offers expert advice to help you cultivate stunning roses, vibrant gardens, and welcoming homes. Each edition features a subscriber-submitted question, where Felicia provides thoughtful answers to your rose, garden, and home-related queries. This Q&A was originally featured as a highlighted question from one of our subscribers, published in the newsletter.
Q: "I planted bare root roses in the spring from Menagerie. They're doing great! Before the remnants of Hurricane Helene came through, I deadheaded and cut back tall canes to prevent wind rock. Glad I did. Winds were over 55 mph here! Despite my efforts some of the roses got rocked. How should I help them get re-established?"
Submitted by: Shelly from Shelbyville, KY - Zone 6b
A: Hi Shelly! I am sorry to hear that your roses took a beating but I'm glad to hear you and your family are safe and well. Start by checking each rose for broken or damaged stems. Prune any that are severely affected, making clean cuts above healthy leaf sets or buds. If any stems are leaning or have been uprooted, gently stake them back to an upright position. Use soft ties to avoid damaging the canes.
If there is standing water around the base of the plant remove as much water as you can by creating furrows to drain it away from the root zone or remove the water with a submersible pump. The key is to get the soil to dry out to a normal level of moisture as quickly as you can so no standing water is left.
Once there is no standing water around the base of the plant, apply a layer of compost or mulch around the base to help stabilize the plant & maintain the soil temperature. This also protects the roots to help them get re-established.
Keep an eye on their progress over the next few weeks. Look for signs of new growth and be patient; recovery may take some time. Within a few weeks your roses should bounce back beautifully. They are very resilient plants!
GET HELP WITH YOUR GARDEN
Have a gardening question for our head farmer & founder Felicia? Share it for a chance to win a $25 Menagerie Shop Gift Card! This opportunity is open to all subscribers of Growing Wonder with Felicia Alvarez, a weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every Sunday. Not a subscriber yet? Sign up today and submit your question next Sunday! BECOME A SUBSCRIBER
Want to catch up on past newsletter issues? Read Them Here
This post may contain affiliate links. I make a small commission if you purchase a product from the link. I only recommend products I love and use in hopes they will help you too!
