Why Tree Roses Die in Winter & How to Protect Them

A gardener's two 36-inch tree roses bloomed beautifully year one but have no leaves year two. They didn't cover them for winter. Can they be saved?

Tree Roses Are Uniquely Vulnerable

Tree roses (standards) are created by budding a modern rose atop a tall, straight rootstock cane. The graft union sits 3+ feet in the air—fully exposed to winter cold and wind with no snow cover or soil insulation.

Winter Protection Is Mandatory

In zones with freezing winters:

1. Wait until fully dormant (after hard freeze, all leaves dropped).
2. Wrap the entire top (head + stem) in bubble wrap or burlap.
3. Mound soil/mulch 12+ inches at base for extra insulation.
4. Alternatively: Dig a trench, lay the whole tree down, cover with soil/mulch, and upright in spring.

Diagnosis for This Plant

• Scratch bark on canes: Green underneath = alive. Brown = dead.
• If green: It will leaf out from surviving buds. Prune dead tips, water, wait.
• If brown throughout: The grafted variety is dead. Only the rootstock (likely Rugosa) may regrow from base—producing a very different rose.

For future: Treat tree roses as container plants in cold zones—move to unheated garage, or use the trench method.