Question
Hello LIG,
This summer I planted a shrub rose (my first rose) called
"The Fairy", produced by StarRoses.  It did very well in spite
of the heat and drought and is still blooming.  I would like
to know how to prepare this shrub for the winter and when
and how to prune it.  It is close to my homes foundation, it
should get some wind protection.  I live in Fair Lawn, NJ,
about 12 miles west of the George Washington Bridge.
Thanks, Tina

Answer
Tina, The best thing you can do right now is to let the blossoms fade and petals drop - which you may know is different from the rest of the season, when we try to remove spent flowers and discourage anything that would lead to seed production.

Sort of like tucking a child in for bed.

Reason being, your Rose wants to propogate and generates flowers and growth to make that happen.  If you allow it to go to seed, it will at least have completed a full cycle.  That allows it to naturally wind down, harden off and prepare for dormancy and winter.

If it has crossed your mind to fertilize one last time before summer ends, drop that thought.  Fertilizing now - something people often announce they have done when asking me about a gardening crisis - will generate tender new growth that will never make it through the winter without a miracle.  

Many growers do special pruning on their Roses later in the fall.  The idea is to protect the Rose from severe winter weather by cutting the shrub down to 2 1/2 feet.  If your area in NJ tortures your favorite Roses with harsh wind and snow - both of which are murder on Roses - cutting off small branches and twigs near the top of the plant that tend to collect piles of snow will eliminate damage from snapped stems and broken branches over the winter.  But if you don't have that kind of snow or wind problem, that measure is not really necessary.

The only potential problem you might encounter with the foundation planting of a Rose is that the plant might develop chlorosis due to a pH that is too high.  Cement foundations leach high pH materials into the plants nearby.  It's certainly something to watch for.  Roses need a lower pH to be in great shape - and to flower.  On the other hand, the old saying "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" applies here.  Since you are doing so wonderfully with your first Rose, grow more of them next year - and keep up the good work.

Thanks for writing.  Let me know if I can answer any other questions.