Southern rosarians are still enjoying their roses in the landscape and as cut flowers, and it's important to continue to keep your plants pest and disease free. In temperate climates, fungal diseases that attack roses will overwinter, causing no endof problems in the spring. Maintaining your regular fungicide/miticide/insecticide spray regimen will guarantee beautiful roses now and in the spring, too. Temperate climate gardeners must force dormancy in December or January to give plants a rest andprone to promote a spectacular early spring bloom. We'll discuss that in detail in the next issue of Flower & Garden. Northern gardeners, on the other hand, are getting ready to prepare their roses to weather the ravages of winter. As cold weather approaches, you'll notice that on some varieties of roses, the canes mm purplish. This is the plant's natural anti-freeze system kicking in, thickening cell walls to help keep them from bursting and killing all, or part of, the cane. For many varieties, particularly the old garden roses and many shrubs, climbers, and floribundas, the plants' natural system will prevent winter damage. But many modem roses, particularly the hybrid teas, require rose-lover intervention to keep winter's cold and wind from damaging, or even killing the plants.
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