The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping and the weather is occasionally getting really uncomfortable. As nature gradually sinks into hibernation, the optimal time has come to plant roses.
When is the optimal time to plant roses in autumn?
The best time to plant roses is autumn, especially between early October and early December. Bare root roses should be preferred as they are fresher and he althier. Autumn planting promotes faster sprouting and earlier flowering in spring.
Autumn is the best time to plant roses
Bare root roses in particular should be planted between the beginning of October and the beginning of December if possible, as the planting shock at this point is no longer as great as during the growing season. In addition, the bare-root roses on sale in the fall come directly from the fields, so they are completely fresh - in contrast to the bare-root specimens purchased in the spring, which were kept cool in a storage room over the winter and are therefore likely to have suffered some damage. By the way, roses planted in autumn sprout again more quickly in the following spring and therefore bloom earlier.
Preparing and planting roses
However, before you can start planting the new acquisitions, you should prepare them for planting. This primarily includes planting pruning, in which the above-ground shoots are cut back to a maximum of 30 centimeters. The same applies to the roots; they also need pruning. However, many nurseries deliver bare-root roses with the correct planting cut when they are purchased. You should also place the trimmed rose in a bucket (€15.00 on Amazon) of water for several hours, ideally overnight, before planting. Once the preparations are complete, you can put the rose in the garden:
- Choose a suitable location.
- Observe the necessary planting distance.
- Loose the soil well and, above all, deeply.
- Dig a sufficiently large and deep planting hole.
- Place the rose so that the roots have enough space in all directions.
- The finishing point should be at least five centimeters below the surface.
- Fill in any prepared excavation again.
- Tamp the loose soil firmly.
- Water the rose thoroughly.
- If necessary, support it with the help of a plant stick.
Make sure to plant the rose on a dry and frost-free day.
Tip
After planting, you should definitely ensure good winter protection by piling up the freshly planted rose and covering it with fir branches.