Roses need only a little care in fall and early winter. Here are a few tips from the IBG gardening staff:

1. When roses begin to drop leaves, look for spots or diseased leaves. Rake the leaves up or clean them off the canes. Do not leave them on the ground until spring.

2. Stop deadheading roses by the middle of September. This will encourage the rose bush to go dormant.

3. Do not prune roses in the fall. Roses need only a trimming in late fall or early winter. Trim back the tall canes that might be damages during a fall or winter windstorm. The hard pruning of roses (pruning way back) will come in the spring.

4. For new roses, mulch after the ground freezes, usually around Thanksgiving. This keeps the rose bush cold so it will stay dormant.