Plan on tipping your roses on or about Oct. 15th. One to two days prior to tipping generously water the plants.

The day before tipping, give the plants a good dormant spray such as liquid lime sulfur. Follow the directions of the label.

On the day of tipping tie the canes together [1] by wrapping them with baling twine. Do not prune any of the top growth as the cold weather can inhibit the formation of a protective callus.

Next dig a trench starting away from and working toward the base of the bush. The trench should be as long as the bush is high; the width and depth should easily accommodate the bush. Pull the soil away from the shank, the area between the bud union and the main branching of the root system, to facilitate tipping the bush.

Now carefully push the rose bush over [2] so it is bending at the roots. Hold it down and cover it with 2 - 3 inches of soil.

Finally cover the mound of soil with about 18 “ of loose leaves or straw.