The answer is: yes! Roses are particularly well suited to fall planting. They tend to benefit immensely, and you can pay a quarter of the price for plants that you might be charged during the spring.
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.
The best time to plant knockout roses is in the spring or fall. Make sure there is no threat of frost or they may not last through it.
More roses are planted in spring and this may be slightly safer but there are several advantages in fall planting. Soil preparation is easier in autumn. At that time the earth is more likely to be friable, not frozen or waterlogged as it may be in early spring.
Avoid pruning roses in the fall. Because pruning spurs more growth, stop deadheading or cutting blooms for bouquets a few weeks before your area's first frost date. As the weather gets colder, your roses will begin to go dormant, moving their energy reserves into their roots to help them survive the winter.
Water the new shrub once every three weeks for the winter and then once a week through spring. From early spring through fall, most established roses will need a good slow drink of at least 2 gallons of water each week. Mature climbing roses or larger shrubs may need 4 gallons each week.
In-ground: Add 2-3" of mulch, leaves, or pine/fir boughs around the base of the plant. A heavy snow cover will also help insulate and protect the plant through the winter. Also, the winter winds can really dry out the plant so you may want to wrap the plant with burlap.
Fall is the second best time, toward the end of October or in November, if the soil is still reasonably warm. The plant will do better the longer it has to reestablish itself before winter cold arrives. You can transplant roses in mid-season, say June or July, but it's risky.
To maintain a size of 3–4' w x 3–4' h, Knock Out® Roses should be cut back once a year to 12” high.
Roses thrive on direct sunlight. For best results, a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight is recommended. However, even when planted against a north wall (meaning no direct sunlight) roses can still perform well.
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.
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.
September means it's time to turn off the water sprinklers, plant cool-season fall vegetables, and prune your roses for a showy fall bloom.
Planting in September
Plant now beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, celery, fava beans, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, both head and leaf lettuce, mustard greens, onions, parsley, peas, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnips.
Vegetables to plant in September: Beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce (plant in the beginning of the month), onion sets, spinach and turnips.
Roses prefer a full day of sun. Give roses at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day. Morning sun is especially important because it dries the leaves, which helps prevent disease. The area should have good air circulation.
By pruning your Knock Out Roses, your strengthening the Knock Out Rose to hold all of the growth throughout the year. If you don't prune your roses, they may become too top heavy. Also, pruning in early spring will make your Knock Out Roses full of blooms!
Most roses can withstand a quick cold snap of temperatures down to 10 degrees F, but it is best to protect them if you expect an extended period of time when temperatures dip under 20 degrees F. The amount of protection your roses need depends on the climate in which you live.
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.
Don't prune the top of the rose bush. Remove the leaves but not the hips. Tie up the bush with twine. Mound soil 10 to 12 inches around the base of the plant to insulate the crown.
After the first hard frost of the fall, secure canes to their support and prune off long ends. Next, wrap the canes in burlap, straw, or evergreen boughs and tie with twine. Mound 10”-12” of soil around the base of the plant.