What special care do rose cones require?
During the early winter and early spring, the sun can make the temperature inside rose cones rise tremendously. You might need to let air get in and circulate by punching holes near the top of the cone or removing it during the daytime. Before learning how to MN Tip my roses I used cones and every Spring I would find mold and mildew on the canes. If we have an unseasonable warm Spring, I might start uncovering my bushes (removing the mulch) earlier than normal. When you do bring your roses up, remember that the canes are more tender that they were last fall and that the wind can do as much damage to the bushes as the cold winter. You can spray the canes with water or you might use an anti-transpirant such as Cloud Cover or Wilt-Pruf.
