After a cold snap like we have now in March it is a good idea to keep an eye on any new roses you have planted or any roses you have already pruned. Frost can affect these open ends of the stems. You can tell if frost has got into the stem. Inspect all cut stems closely! If you see a two toned effect, usually purple to black and cream to white and maybe some rippling in the outer skin. This will indicate possible frost damage. Get your secateurs and cut below the infected end into fresh green stem. If you do not do this the frost damage will progress down the stem eventually killing that stem right into the rootstock. Let the cold weather pass before doing any cutting!
An Old Portland Rose "Jacques Cartier" excellent rose.Roses love leaf mould and well rotted manure. Do not give them a mulch of woody matter! Your garden compost may have a fair percentage of wood. Roses do not like bark too much either.