If you are buying potted roses, it's best to plant them by late spring for best results. However, you may plant them almost any time during the growing season—just be sure to keep them well-watered, especially during summer!
Personally I think fall is a terrific time to plant roses. The exception may be if you live well up north where bitter winters come on quick and early, but for most of us it's a good time. Here in our zone 7/6 foothills of the Blue Ridge I start planting in late August when the nights turn cooler.
A: In Southern California, it's never too late to plant rosebushes. The popular “Iceberg” roses are super hardy and will rebloom without constant deadheading. They are also available in pink and burgundy flowered varieties. If you want to plant any perennials, it's a good idea to do it sooner rather than later.
Additionally, roses planted in April and May are doomed to face the upcoming summer heat sooner than later. Roses planted in February and March are able to establish roots while the weather is mild and are able to deal with the heat better once it arrives.
Aside from times of extreme weather, roses can be planted at any time during the year. The extreme weather conditions that we advise against planting in are when the ground is frozen, water-logged or during a drought.
Planting new roses during intense heat is also not a great idea, although container-grown roses can be planted this time of the year if needed. For roses highly susceptible to black spot, a weekly spray program is important through the summer months.
Roses like morning sun whenever possible. Morning sun burns the dew off the roses and makes them less likely to suffer from mildew and other diseases. However, afternoon sun tends to be stronger than morning sun so, if you are only able to provide the rose with a half day of sun, choose the afternoon over the morning.
Roses love sunshine, but they tend to struggle when temperatures rise above 85℉. Many of us are experiencing much hotter summers than we're used to, making the need for heat-tolerant roses increase, even in some northern climates. Roses experiencing heat stress may experience leaf scorch, wilting, and leaf loss.
If you must transplant in the heat of summer, do it in the cool of morning or evening, and on a cloudy day. Water, water, and more water will help a growing rose bush compensate for the loss of roots when you transplant. And in the heat of summer when the soil dries out quickly, even more water.
When Do Roses Bloom? Roses start blooming in late May and continue to do so through early fall. They are often considered to be at their best in June, which is why roses are considered June's birth flower.
When to Plant in the Fall. Don't stick your plants in the ground mere days before the first expected frost. Your roses won't have time to get settled in and become established before the harsh winter weather hits. The right time to plant is about six weeks before the first predicted frost date in the fall.
Fall is an excellent time to transplant roses, if you wait until after hard frost and the bushes are semidormant. You may want to shorten the canes before moving but pruning of other roses should be left until spring.
Starting too soon can result in a weak, lanky plant, while starting too late can give you one that is just not ready for the outside world—both will struggle to survive!
Vegetables that can be planted in August include leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, collards, kale and mustard. Radishes, turnips, beets and carrots can all be started from seeds in August.
Dahlias are an obvious choice when it comes to what to plant in August, as they will flower right up to the first frosts and several varieties bring added interest with bronze foliage. You can also rely on long-blooming salvias, astilbes, sunny rudbeckias and gaillardias, asters, sedums and heleniums.
August is an ideal time to plant seeds for a second gardening season that can be as productive as your major early spring plantings. Late summer is perfect for a delicious fall vegetable and herb harvest.
If you can wait for the perfect time, early spring is ideal, when it is still dormant but the soil can be worked. So is the fall, after the hips have formed, if your rose produces them. In areas where the soil doesn't freeze solid, you can move your dormant rose any time during the winter.
They should also be planted in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. In especially hot climates, roses do best when they are protected from the hot afternoon sun. In cold climates, planting a rose bush next to a south- or west-facing fence or wall can help minimize winter freeze damage.
Trim your roses again in late summer
Since we have a longer flowering season in warmer climates, I also recommend another pruning in August. This will encourage a second, hearty bloom cycle in October. This pruning does not need to be as hard-core and meticulous.
Courtesy Nancy Butterfield Roses are sun-loving plants but they will struggle with excessive heat and drought. The majority of rose varieties do need bright sunny conditions. Many of them require at least 4 hours of direct sun a day, and flower best with a full 6 to 8 hours.
Again, be sure to keep them watered well but not soaked. During days when things cool off, wash down the foliage well when watering the roses, as they will enjoy it. Many rose bushes will stop blooming when under heat stress, as they are working hard to keep the needed moisture flowing to their foliage.
Rose plant is wilting may be due to excessive heat, which can stress any plant. The plant is using a tremendous amount of food and water in extreme heat and the foliage just can't keep up. Make sure your rose bush is getting adequate water without over watering, the roots don't like consistently wet soil.
By adding coffee grounds to your roses, you create a barrier that will keep pests away and allow your rose bushes to thrive. So if you're wondering whether coffee grounds are good for roses, the answer is a resounding yes! Coffee grounds are an inexpensive and readily available organic fertilizer for your roses.
Try to water your plants in the morning so the leaves have time to dry off during the day. If the leaves are wet at night, they might develop mildew. If your roses appear droopy or are wilting, water them right away, since this is a sign they're drying out.
FOR ESTABLISHED ROSES:
Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer or top dress with alfalfa meal (5-1-2) for the first application to jump-start leaf development, along with epsom salts to encourage new cane development and lusher growth. Add a slow-release fertilizer when shoots are 4 to 5 inches long.