To be effective, hand hoeing or cultivation must be started early in the season. Cultivation should be frequent, but shallow. A summer mulch such as grass clippings, peat, pine needles, wood chips, or shredded bark helps eliminate the unpleasant task of hand hoeing. Place the mulch material at least three inches deep around the plant. A mulch also conserves moisture, cools and conditions the soil.
Mulches can be left in place permanently, they eventually decompose and become part of the soil.
Winter Protection Adequate winter protection is necessary for all roses except those that are completely hardy. Roses must be protected not only against low temperatures, but against fluctuating temperatures. The two methods described below have been used successfully for protecting tender roses in winter. Spray all the rose bushes with a fungicide to prevent disease organisms from overwintering on plants. And it's a good idea to protect the plants by applying a mouse control bait before you cover them.