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Cane Dieback on rose

rose with cane dieback

What's Happening

Canes turn brown, black, or purple and die from the tip down. Causes include severe winter freezing, pruning at the wrong time (promoting soft growth before frost), pruning with dull/dirty tools causing infection, or inadequate winter protection in cold zones.

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Wait until early spring when the plant begins to bud out to assess full winter damage

  2. 2

    Prune the dead, blackened cane down to healthy, green tissue with a white pith center

  3. 3

    Cut at a 45-degree angle just above an outward-facing bud node

  4. 4

    Seal large cuts with white glue if cane borers are a local problem

How to Prevent It

Stop fertilizing and deadheading by late summer to encourage the rose to harden off for winter. In cold climates (Zone 5 and below), mound soil or compost 8-10 inches high around the base of the canes after the first hard freeze.

Related Problems

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Frequently Asked Questions

What causes cane dieback on my plant?
Canes turn brown, black, or purple and die from the tip down. Causes include severe winter freezing, pruning at the wrong time (promoting soft growth before frost), pruning with dull/dirty tools causi...
How do I fix cane dieback?
Wait until early spring when the plant begins to bud out to assess full winter damage. Prune the dead, blackened cane down to healthy, green tissue with a white pith center.
How do I prevent cane dieback from happening again?
Stop fertilizing and deadheading by late summer to encourage the rose to harden off for winter. In cold climates (Zone 5 and below), mound soil or compost 8-10 inches high around the base of the canes...