Climbing roses should ideally be planted in autumn, as they grow better at this time and sprout more quickly in spring. However, it is not always possible to meet this deadline. In such a case, you can also put the plants in the garden in spring.
Can you plant climbing roses in spring?
Climbing roses can be planted in spring, although autumn is the ideal planting time. Climbing roses planted in spring should receive special care and preference should be given to robust, frost-hardy varieties to ensure he althy growth.
Ideal planting time for roses between October and April
In general, October is considered the best planting time not only for climbing roses, but for almost all roses. At this point, the plants have already shed their leaves and prepared for winter dormancy. Now you can plant or transplant the climbing rose without subjecting it to too much stress - the so-called “plant shock” does not occur. In principle, you can also plant the rose later, weather permitting. The temperatures should not be lower than 0 °C and the ground should not be frozen.
Why autumn is usually preferable
There are various reasons why autumn is the ideal planting time. The fact that the climbing rose is currently in hibernation is not even the most important thing - after all, the plant does not sprout until March or April, which is why spring planting is generally an option. However, the following reasons still speak for autumn:
- The climbing rose can develop new hair roots until spring
- and therefore sprout again more quickly.
- If you buy roses in autumn, you get fresh-from-the-field goods that grow more easily.
- Roses purchased in spring have often been stored in cold storage for several months and are therefore no longer fresh.
- These plants usually grow more poorly and are more susceptible to diseases.
When it makes sense to plant climbing roses in spring
Since most climbing roses are hardy when mature, they can easily be planted before a longer cold period in autumn. If you want to be on the safe side, choose particularly robust and frost-hardy varieties. These are also provided with appropriate winter protection. It is usually enough to pile up a thick layer of soil and cover the base of the rose with spruce branches. However, if you live in a very cold winter region with long-lasting frosts, planting in spring makes more sense. The same applies to climbing rose varieties that are sensitive to cold.
Tip
Unlike climbing and other shrub roses, standard roses should always be planted in spring.
