Is It Better to Plant Roses in Fall or Spring? Here's What Experts Say

Spring is often thought of as peak planting time, whether it's roses or veggies. But many perennials also do well when planted in the fall or even prefer this time of year. So, is there a best season for planting roses?

According to experts, there's no one-fits-all answer, as both spring and fall planting have advantages. Those advantages may stack up more in your favor during one season or the other, depending on your climate. This guide will help you determine the best time to plant roses where you live.

Spring vs. Fall Planting

Comparing the benefits of fall and spring planting for roses can help you figure out when would be best for your growing conditions and the level of care you're willing to provide.

Advantages of Spring Rose Planting

For many types of plants, spring is the prime planting season. According to Wes Harvell, rosarian at the parent plant company of Jackson & Perkins, it's a fine time for planting roses as well. “In most regions, spring is the safest time to plant roses. The soil is warming, days are lengthening, and new roots have months to establish before winter. Spring-planted roses have plenty of time to grow, bloom, and build strength for the cold ahead.”

Planting roses in spring lets you watch over them and provide them with extra care during that critical first growing season. You’ll be able to observe plant health, and the rose will have an entire growing season to settle in, grow roots, and be ready for winter. 

Advantages of Fall Rose Planting

Planting perennials, like roses, in the autumn also has its advantages. It allows the plants to focus on root establishment without the stress of supporting top growth. Warm soil and cool air temperatures trigger root growth, which is perfect for getting a start in spring. 

Caroline Ervin, landscape designer and owner of Caroline Ervin Landscape Design and the Georgetown Garden Shop, says planting a rose during the dormant period is a good practice. “Whether planting in the garden or in a container, the best time to plant roses, especially bare-root roses, is while the rose bush is in dormancy between late autumn and early spring, which is November to April in most climates. By planting during the plant’s dormant phase, its roots are allowed to settle into the soil before beginning to grow in spring.”

She does caution to pay attention to soil conditions. “Do not plant roses when the ground is frozen, water-logged, or during a drought, as these conditions do not allow the rose’s roots to settle into the soil properly.”

For gardeners in warmer areas, fall planting avoids the stress of a hot summer without adequate root systems. “Fall planting can be a great option in warmer climates, typically USDA Zones 7 and above, where the ground doesn’t freeze solid,” Harvell advises. “Cooler fall air combined with still-warm soil encourages root development without the stress of high summer temperatures. Roses planted in early fall often perform even better the following spring because their roots have had time to settle in over winter.”

What About Summer Rose Planting?

Spring and fall are the traditional times for planting roses, but sometimes you find a good plant sale in the middle of summer. What’s a rose gardener to do? First off, buy that rose. Second, you can still plant it, but it will require a bit more care. 

Planting roses in summer requires more attention, says Harvell. “High heat and rapid evaporation stress new roots. If summer is your only option, plant early in the morning or late in the day, water deeply and consistently, and use a thick layer of mulch to help retain moisture and keep roots cool." He advises against planting bare-root roses in summer, as they will struggle to establish in the heat.

Another option is to keep containerized roses as patio plants in the summer, carefully watered and kept sheltered from the worst of the afternoon sun until the weather becomes more moderate and suitable for planting in autumn.

How Climate Affects Planting Time

Part of the reason for the differing opinions on when to plant a rose lies in the wide variation in climate across the US. In areas that experience extreme summer heat or dry conditions, like the South, fall planting is much more common. 

“In the South and coastal regions, where winters are mild and soils stay workable, fall is ideal," Harvell explains. You can plant until about six weeks before your first expected frost. In the North and Midwest, where hard freezes arrive early, spring planting is more reliable. Roses planted too late in fall risk heaving from freeze–thaw cycles or suffering root injury before dormancy. In transitional zones, gardeners may go either way, depending on local frost dates, just be sure to mulch well for insulation if planting in fall.”

No matter where you live, avoid planting roses too close to your first fall frosts and during extreme summer heat.

Bare-Root vs. Containerized Roses

If you purchased a bare-root rose, it should arrive dormant (no leaves). Bare-root nursery stock is kept dormant and shipped to retailers or directly to your home in spring or sometimes fall, and should be planted while the plant is dormant.

For the most part, a bare-root rose can be planted as soon as the ground is soft enough to be worked in spring. If you can’t plant it right away, store the bare-root roses in a cool, dry location for up to two weeks. To rehydrate the roots, place the plants in a bucket of water overnight or at least for a few hours before planting. Get the rose in the ground before it tries to bud out and push leaves.

Because container roses are in soil, they offer more flexibility. They can be planted at any time during the growing season with proper care and kept as a patio plant for a few weeks if it's too hot for planting or while you figure out where in your yard you have room.

“Potted roses can be planted all year round, though they are also best planted during the rose’s dormant period between November and April,” says Ervin.