Plant rose bushes when temperatures are between 40 and 60 degrees and when all chances of freezing temperatures have passed—anywhere from February to early May, depending on your climate. This timing will allow the plant to form strong roots before the full heat of the summer hits.
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.
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.
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.
The right time to plant is about six weeks before the first predicted frost date in the fall. This gives them time to establish roots so they have the best chance of surviving the winter and emerging in spring. Don't plant too early, though.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You will then plant your rose plants/bare roots following the zone guideline. In most hardiness zones, the best time to plant roses is early spring. This is sometime between late February and early April.
Floribundas also tend to be much easier to care for than hybrid tea and grandiflora roses, making them one of the best varieties of roses to grow.
After several days of below freezing temperatures, create a mound of soil, compost, shredded leaves or evergreens 8 to 10 inches deep over the base of the plant. Mounding keeps the rose uniformly cold, which reduces the chance of damage caused by cycles of freeze and thaw.
Can I cut my rose bush to the ground? Yes, but it's not usually necessary. The only reason for cutting rose bushes to the ground is if all of the canes are either severely damaged or dead. It's better to follow the steps above to give them a heavy pruning, rather than just cutting them down to the ground.
Some gardeners, even in the colder zones, wait to winterize roses until late fall when all the roses are completely dormant. But the weather is unpredictable by mid-fall, and a sudden cold snap could cause serious damage. There's more than one method of winterizing all your roses.
Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
The pH of this potting soil is between 6.0 and 6.5, which makes it ideal for growing roses.
Dig a hole that is slightly wider but equally in depth to the rose's root ball. This will generally be about 15 to 18 inches deep by 18 to 24 inches wide. Mix a handful of bone meal or superphosphate into the soil you removed and save it for refilling the hole once the rose is planted.
Helps With Nutrient Intake
"When rose plants have sufficient magnesium levels, they can more effectively utilize these nutrients, promoting overall growth and development." Additionally, Epsom salts' sulfur content also helps with nutrient uptake.
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.
Meanwhile, summer planting is also not ideal because of the high heat during this season. In San Diego, for instance, the temperature in August can hit 78°F. That's why the best time to plant roses in Southern California is either in spring or fall.