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.
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.
Autumn is an excellent time to prepare rose beds even if planting is delayed until spring. Select a location with good drainage, away from tree roots, and where the sun shines at least four or five hours a day, preferably more. Work the soil two spades deep.
While you can plant roses in the fall, well before the first frost (6 weeks), you will see little growth and blooming until the following spring.
Here is the response from Bonnie Vitale, president of the Western New York Rose Society: Save the hard pruning for spring. In the fall, cut off any broken stems. Some gardeners like to cut their rose bushes down to a height of 18-24 inches in the fall to prevent wind and snow damage.
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.
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.
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.
You may not think of late summer and fall as a time for rose gardening. Sometimes, however, roses will actually establish better when planted in fall than when planted in late winter through early spring.
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.
First, dig a small hole where you want to put your new rose bed. Then, fill it with water and see how long it takes to drain. If it takes more than an hour you'll want to improve your drainage by digging deeper planting holes and adding some coarse sand to allow for faster drainage.
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.
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.
Roses are excellent plants for growing in pots. English Roses, with their shrubby, bushy habit are ideal for growing in large pots and containers. Unlike many other potted plants, English Roses will flower in fragrant flushes throughout the summer and into the fall.
Or you could plant near your home or a wall, so long as they aren't placed so close that there isn't good air circulation and sun exposure available.
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.
Roses can be deadheaded throughout the growing season. For old roses, prune after they bloom in the late summer or fall. Generally, roses can be pruned in the early spring before the leaves appear as well.
– Rock Salt or Epsom Salts
Adding salts to your soil will definitely perform the intended function of killing the rose bush plant, but it will also destroy your soil and any other plants you might want to grow in it. Adding salts to the soil produces water stresses, nutrient deficiency and chloride toxicity.
It's easy to neglect roses, because they don't need to be pruned regularly in order to grow and bloom year after year. But, if you want to keep them healthy and full of flowers, trimming helps a ton! If you never cut them back, over time they will bloom less, and look more scraggly.
WHEN TO PRUNE ROSES. The best time to prune roses is in late winter or early spring, around the time new growth begins. This could be as early as January or as late as May, depending on your climate.