Only my shrub roses keep green canes through the winter.
ALL the HTs have dieback to about 8". Some charts call us zone 7, some say zone 6. With the exception of this past winter, we've had zone 7 weather the last 10 years.
I did mulch this winter, thank goodness, or I wouldn't have a single budded HT left.
The roses at our local botanical garden are sheltered by large trees and stone walls, and with that protection, and mulch, they keep 2 or 3 feet of green cane. Many times, the cane looks green all the way out, but it has black splotches all along, so it has to be cut back.
I think the west coast is the only place where roses truly grow the way they are supposed to. They get tall along the gulf coast, but they are riddled with insects and diseases unless sprayed there. Same story on the east coast, but they don't get as big with a shorter growing season.
My garden design is based on color. I plant blue/lavender and white roses in one area. I've had to replace more roses in that bed than in any other. I am trying to figure out if it is the soil in that area, the exposure, my watering, or the choice of rose.
This year, I'm planting in better soil, and planting deeper. I'm also using Mill's Magic. I'm crossing fingers hoping we don't get another killer heat wave and extended drought this summer so the new ones get a decent start.
