Based on my good results last year with fall planting, I went ahead and ordered a bunch of own-root roses to plant this fall as well. They were all in the ground by around the end of September.

For winter protection I sprayed the canes with Vapor Gard. I put down straw after the nightly temperatures hit consistently below freezing (between 20-32°F) The beds with fall-planted hybrid teas and floribundas were surrounded with burlap (for extra wind protection).

Overall, fall planting was a success this year. Some of the band-sized modern, read tender, roses died to the ground, but all recovered within a few weeks. Despite the setback from winterkill, by summer many had caught up and even surpassed my spring-planted bands. The antique, read hardy, roses seemed to benefit especially from fall planting. One year later, most are at least triple the size of my spring-planted antique roses.

Because of the difference in vigor and hardiness among cultivars as well as the difference in the quality and size of specimens from different vendors, I would hesitate to draw any generalized conclusions from this report. I will say that I am very satisfied with the overall results of fall planting in my garden. I would caution against fall planting of marginally hardy cultivars, especially modern types such as hybrid teas. But I would also encourage zone 6 gardeners to consider the benefits of fall planting. For cane-hardy roses, fall is probably the ideal planting time.

This page was last updated on 09.20.05