From time to time, visitors ask, “What does the Columbus Park of Roses garden supervisor do during the winter?” Certainly, the majority of visible, physical work to maintain the gardens occurs from March through November. Fall and winter bring different tasks.

Some garden work is still necessary after the first hard frost. This is when many leaves, especially oak leaves, are raked from the the grass and around the shelter house to be composted. Mulching is also a regular autumn task. Visitors would have noticed that tree circles and rose beds were being mulched last November. Of course, fallen branches must be cleared throughout winter. 

Winter also provides the needed time to update records. The extensive rose, tree and shrub lists change from year to year and must be kept up to date. This detailed record keeping is no small task. In addition, winter is when new plant material is researched, selected and ordered. Equipment maintenance also takes place in the winter.

In 2019, the garden supervisor, after consulting with horticultural colleagues, made the decision to discontinue the traditional November cutback of roses — previously a bi-annual event. In the past, most of the roses were dormant by late in the year; as a result of climate changes, they no longer are. Cutting them back while growth is still active compromises the plant’s health and ability to survive freezing temperatures.

The rose cutback is now a single, spring event. Unfortunately, this year, it had to be cancelled due to the COVID 19. We hope to get back into the garden when the pandemic has eased. Be safe.

Before we know it, the CPOR garden supervisor, along with her two seasonal workers and a corp of dedicate volunteers, will be out maintaining the gardens during their gloriously long bloom season!