Roses are a perfect candidate for fall planting because they tend to benefit greatly from the cooler weather and can be purchased at quarter of their spring price.
Making the most out of your yard sale by planting a few rose bushes is a great idea. Not only will they bring in plenty of money when it comes time for them to flower, but these hardworking plants also offer excellent benefits that you can’t get anywhere else!
Advantages and Disadvantages of Fall Planting
Planting in the spring can be a challenge. You might have to wait until later in the season because of the soggy soil or frozen earth, but if you plant in autumn, it is usually dry and warmer so it’s easier to work!
In autumn, the weather is lovely, but it can also be a bit harsh. You have to worry about sudden heatwaves that may toast your rose bush or kill off all of its leaves at once!
While it might sound like a hassle to shop for plants during the off season, you can often find certain varieties at lower prices. Most nurseries offer an end-of-season discount and discounts on other items as well so keep your eyes wide opened!
Those who plant their roses in the fall are more likely to see blooms earlier than those planted during springtime.
When you plant a rose in the ground, it takes several months for them to become established and send out blossoms. Whereas those planted before October or November have time enough during winter when there is little activity around their roots because they are already well rooted by then.
On the negative side, you might lose your plants if they are not adequately prepared for a wet autumn or an early unexpected freeze.
If you want a certain plant but can’t find it in the spring or if your garden bed isn’t prepared by then, prep work might be an option.
When to Plant in the Fall
You should always give your plants time to settle in before the first expected frost. You don’t want them getting uprooted by harsh winter weather and you’ll regret not giving them enough sun exposure if it’s too late for growth or flowers later on down the road!
The best time to plant is about six weeks before your first predicted frost date in the fall. This gives them enough time so that they can establish roots and have a better chance of survival during winter, as well emerging with new life again next spring!
Playing with your rose plants is a lot of fun, but don’t forget that they need some care. Make sure you know the right time for planting so as not to kill them!
Steps to Take for Fall Planting
You can absolutely plant a live rose in the fall, but keep in mind that dormant bare root plants are safer. They’re less shocked by transition and easier to find than their evergreen counterparts for those who want something this time of year!
Prepare the planting hole as you would in spring, but keep an eye on light exposure. You want to make sure that your chosen spot doesn’t get too little sun during fall season or overheat because this can lead to early blooming and leaf drop.
Once you have determined that your soil needs some work, there is a variety of things to do. For heavy clay or sandy conditions, adding plenty of well-rotted compost will improve drainage and water retention in those types of soils.
Now before digging the hole, you want the hole for your rose to be about twice as wide and just a touch deeper than what you’re using. Mix in some well-rotted compost into the removed soil.
Fill the hole with water and wait for it to drain. This should take about an hour or less, but if there is still some standing in your drained potting soil after that time has passed, then you have poorly draining ground!
To fix this problem easily enough, simply dig up several feet around and add more compost, or just consider creating a raised bed. Add a bit of the removed soil together with some compost, in order for the rose plant to sit at the proper height.
Use a little cone at the bottom of your hole so that roots can sit on it and guide their growth in whichever direction you want them to go. Make sure there is nothing blocking any part if its potential below ground level before planting! Spread out the roots and add the plant into the hole.
Add 3 inches of soil and compost mixture to the hole. Fill in around roots with more as needed until it is level all around, then water thoroughly.
Care Tips
Pruning is a great way to keep your plant healthy and attractive. Cut back by one third after planting, remove dead or yellowing leaves from the tree in order for its energy to go towards new growth shoots with flowers on them!
You might have a few dead bits on the plants that you bought at the garden center, but as longs they still look healthy overall and are in good shape for next plant season.
Fall is typically rainier than summer so make sure to check if there’s enough moisture in your soil each week or month depending where you live before giving them more water than usual- just because it’ll be harder doesn’t mean you should give up!
Make sure your rose is getting enough water to stay healthy. If you feel like it needs more than what’s in the pot or soil, give them an inch of FW (fresh water) every week until winter comes along so they can go into hibernation without hurting themselves from being too wet. Mulch up around their roots with organic material for insulation during cold months!
Mulching is a great way to keep weeds at bay and help maintain soil moisture. A few inches of natural mulch such as straw, bark or well-rotted manure should be placed on top when planting shrubs in order for them not only survive but thrive too! Use whatever you have available so that it will fit nicely without any gaps between layers.
The perfect time to plant is when the leaves change color. Why? Because it’s easier than planting in spring, and you can save some money!
Plus with fall being such a great season for harvesting vegetables like pumpkins or squash from your garden; why wouldn’t you take advantage?