5 Benefits of Planting Roses in the Fall

Fall is a great time for planting many shrubs and trees. Research shows that roses, in particular, find fall planting favorable. The favorable weather conditions make establishment faster and minimize the stress that would come with summer planting.

If you’re debating putting a rose in your garden this autumn, there are some things to consider first. The most important of those is the first frost area in your region. If you still have four weeks before that date, it’s still a good time. If not, it’s better to wait for spring.

Ideally, you should plant your shrub as soon as possible. The faster you get it in the ground, the faster it will become established. Let’s look at some of the reasons why fall is an ideal time to plant your rose. 

Soil Temperature and Ease of Preparation

A huge advantage to planting most anything in the fall is the condition of the soil. In autumn, the soil is warm and inviting. In places where the ground freezes in winter, the spring soil can be difficult to work with. You have to wait for it to thaw before it is workable. 

Since we typically plant roses while they are dormant or just before they enter dormancy, waiting for spring is risky. You may have to wait longer to work the ground in cold climates. If the rose comes out of dormancy ahead of that time, you’ve missed the ideal window. 

Putting it in the ground late isn’t a death sentence for roses. It just means that you’re likely to see less growth in that first year. The shrub has to establish roots, which requires a lot of energy. Planting late can drastically reduce the flowering ability of the rose. 

The exception to this is working with bare-root roses—these should not be planted in the fall. Bare root cultivars are typically available in winter and spring. If you wait until fall to plant them, you risk losing the plant altogether. You’ll want to put these in the ground as soon as possible so they can begin to establish roots. 

Mild Temperatures

In addition to warm, hospitable soil, autumn brings mild temperatures. Summer heat is stressful to many plants, roses included. Have you noticed how so many plants perk up and start blooming again when the temperature drops back to a comfortable level?

Just like us, roses are most comfortable in mild weather. Without the stress of intense heat, they can focus energy on growth rather than survival. Spring is also cool, but the combination of warm soil and cool air is ideal. 

By planting your roses in the fall, you give them the optimal conditions to establish strong root systems before dormancy. Waiting too late in the spring will mean that your rose has to contend with summer heat stress before it has established strong roots. 

Root Development

This goes hand-in-hand with the first two points, but it bears mentioning as its own benefit. This truly is the most important factor in timing this process. The perfect combination of warm soil and cool air is ideal for achieving maximum root development. 

The benefit of strong roots is well known. Strong roots make strong plants, and this certainly applies to roses. Strong root development in fall leads to earlier and greater growth in spring. This is because the shrub can apply more energy to foliage and flowers and less to establishing those roots. 

Earlier Spring Blooms

That brings me to perhaps the most important benefit of planting your roses in the ground during fall. A shrub that sets down a decent set of roots in the fall will be stronger overall in the spring. All the energy that your spring-planted roses put into getting established will go toward foliage and flower growth. 

Not only will your rose come out of dormancy earlier and faster, but it will also produce more and stronger flowers. Roots and flowers both depend on the same nutrient, phosphorus. When the plant doesn’t need to apply it to the roots, it uses it to produce strong buds.

Water Conservation

Finally, planting in the fall helps to conserve resources, specifically water. This applies more to summer than it does to spring planting, as spring tends to be rainy, too. In many climates, autumn is when things not only cool off but also rain more. 

If you put your shrub in the ground when you know there will be regular rain, you will save a ton of water. Newly planted roses need water every few days and deep watering. It can be difficult to do this when the ground is very dry and hard. Regular rainfall helps to keep the ground moist and soft, so even if you need to water it, you know the water will reach the roots and not just run off the surface. 

How to Do It

Adding a rose shrub to your landscape is not complicated; you just need to account for certain conditions. Here is a brief overview of how to plant your shrub to give it the strongest start.