How to Prepare Roses for Winter in September: 5 Procedures You Can't Skip, and Where Styler and RHS Advice Diverges

September is a turning point for roses: active summer growth slows down, and the bushes must survive the cold season. It is precisely now that their winter hardiness is determined, so gardeners need to carry out a number of procedures without overloading the plants. According to Styler, the key task of autumn is gradual preparation: monitoring the condition of the bushes, adjusting watering, moderate pruning, disease prevention, and timely — but not premature — sheltering.

Cleanup and Monitoring the Condition of the Bushes

The first thing to do in September is to regularly remove fallen leaves around the roses and carefully inspect them for spots and other signs of disease. Plant debris should not be left near the bushes: it rots and creates a favorable environment for the spread of diseases. Diseased leaves should be disposed of separately rather than added to the compost, to avoid transferring the infection to other plants.

Watering: Less, but Correctly

As the weather cools, roses no longer need the summer watering regime. If September is rainy, additional watering may not be needed at all. In dry weather the plants are still watered, but the frequency is gradually reduced, taking care not to allow excessive moisture at the base of the bush. It is important to direct water onto the soil rather than onto the leaves and flowers, to avoid provoking fungal infections.

Gradual Autumn Pruning

Pruning in September and later in autumn is best done gradually, rather than all in one day. Once night frosts begin, remove any remaining buds, weak, damaged, or overly long shoots, as well as branches growing into the center of the bush. Before stable frosts set in, it is advisable to leave 3–5 of the strongest shoots with well-ripened bark and 3–4 with developed buds. Excessive removal of shoots in autumn can weaken the bush before winter.

Prevention of Fungal Diseases

After autumn pruning, the roses should be inspected and, if necessary, treated against fungal diseases — especially if spots, coating, or other signs of infection appeared on the leaves or shoots during the season. For this, copper-based preparations are used: a 5% copper sulfate solution or a 3% Bordeaux mixture. The concentration should not be increased "for extra safety" — the solution is prepared and applied strictly according to the instructions, treating not only the shoots but also the soil around the plant if this is specified.

Sheltering: Don't Rush

There is no need to fully shelter the roses at the beginning of September: until the cooling becomes stable, the bushes are given time to gradually complete their active growth. Mounding and final winter preparation are carried out closer to the cold. To protect the root system, dry peat or another suitable material is used, while the shelter must not create excess moisture at the base of the bush.

Contradictory Data

Here it is important to honestly point out the discrepancy between the sources. Styler recommends carrying out autumn pruning gradually, over a period of roughly September to November, depending on the weather and the condition of the plant. The British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) takes a different position: according to its recommendations, the main pruning of many rose varieties is best done in late winter — early spring, rather than performing heavy pruning at the start of autumn. RHS also emphasizes that there is no single universal scenario: the timing and depth of the work depend on the specific variety. On watering, the positions are close, but RHS additionally notes that mature roses, thanks to their deep root system, usually do not need constant additional moisture, and water is given mainly during dry periods. On feeding, RHS advises not to rush: roses growing in the soil and developing well usually do not require additional fertilizers.

The Main Advice from Experts

Summarizing the recommendations of both sources, one can identify a common principle: do not try to do everything with the roses all at once. In September it is better to carefully monitor the condition of the bushes, remove damaged parts, control watering, and prepare the plants for the cold gradually. The specific timing of pruning and winter protection should be determined taking into account the rose variety and the actual weather, and for winter protection RHS recommends using mulch applied in late autumn — winter, while not piling it directly against the stems, leaving free space at the base of the plant.