Roses are a beloved flower for Southern gardens, but getting them off to a good start requires planting them at the right time. Georgia’s climate can vary quite a bit from north to south, so timing is important to ensure your roses thrive. Follow this guide on when and how to plant roses in Georgia for success.
Why Timing Matters
Planting at the optimal time allows roses to root properly before heat or cold extremes occur. Roses form the strongest root systems in cool, moist soil conditions. Planting too early or late leads to stress, poor growth, and winter dieback. Time planting around these key factors:
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Soil temperature – Roses grow roots best when soils are between 40-60°F Avoid overly cold or warm soils
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Freezes – Plant after the average last spring freeze but before hot summer weather arrives
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Moisture – Plant when ample rain or irrigation is available to establish new transplants,
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Variety – Some roses are more cold or heat tolerant than others. Consider variety when choosing planting time.
Recommended Planting Dates
For most of Georgia, February through April offers the ideal window for planting roses. However, planting times vary by location:
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North Georgia – Mid March to mid April after danger of freezing
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Central Georgia – Early to mid March
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South Georgia – Late February to early March
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Coastal Georgia – Late February to mid March
If winters are very mild, roses can be planted as late as early May in South Georgia. Wait until daytime air temperatures are reliably 50-60°F before planting.
Steps for Planting Roses
Follow these tips when planting roses:
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Prepare beds by amending soil with compost and fertilizer 2-4 weeks before planting.
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Water transplants thoroughly before planting. Don’t let roots dry out.
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Dig holes 2-3 times as wide as the root ball but no deeper.
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Set the rose at the same level it was growing in the nursery pot.
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Backfill with native soil, tamping lightly to remove air pockets.
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Water deeply after planting and mulch around plants.
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Stake tall varieties to protect from wind damage until established.
Caring for Newly Planted Roses
Give roses attentive care right after planting:
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Water 1-2 times per week during the first summer if rainfall is lacking.
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Apply a balanced fertilizer monthly the first season.
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Monitor for pests like Japanese beetles and treat promptly.
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Prune lightly in summer to shape. Wait to do major pruning until the second year.
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Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
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Check soil moisture levels regularly and water during winter dry spells.
The Best Rose Varieties for Georgia Gardens
Choose from these roses that grow well throughout Georgia:
Hybrid Teas
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Mister Lincoln – Very fragrant, large red flowers
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Peace – Pale yellow blooms with pink edges
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Veterans’ Honor – Bright red blooms, disease resistant
Floribundas
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Iceberg – Prolific white flowers, light tea rose scent
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Julia Child – Buttery yellow, licorice fragrance
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Violet’s Pride – Lavender-purple color, slight fragrance
Shrub Roses
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Knock Out – Bright cherry red, completely low maintenance
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Drift Roses – Groundcover types, various colors, reblooming
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Oso Easy Roses – Disease resistant landscape shrubs
Old Garden Roses
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Souvenir de la Malmaison – Lovely white blooms with Damask fragrance
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Madame Hardy – White with blush center, repeat bloomer
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Cramoisi Superieur – Rich, crimson red color, old rose scent
Climbers
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Don Juan – Prolific clusters of dark red flowers
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New Dawn – Silvery pink, reblooms constantly
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Zephirine Drouhin – Bright pink, thornless stems
By planting your rose bushes at the optimal time for your part of Georgia, you can get them established in your landscape for health, beauty and abundant blooms. Pay close attention to soil temperature, moisture levels, and avoiding late frosts when determining the best planting window. With a bit of planning and proper care after planting, your roses will thrive through summer and beyond.
Going Organic?For those who seek the challenge of organic care, selecting an old garden rose or one of the new disease resistant varieties can be the first step in making organic rose growing much easier. In any case, organic care will require more regular monitoring of your roses. How much time that translates into can depend on your rose selection, planting location and overall plant health. A rose with a low insect and disease rating will obviously be more susceptible to problems but unhealthy plants can also invite insects and diseases therefore it is important to give your roses the best possible growing conditions.Here are some simple steps you can take to grow your roses organically. These are also good practices for those who are using non organic methods to growing roses too.
- Choose a type of rose that is less likely to get insects or diseases. ARS ratings are typically from 6-6. 9 for fair to 9-9. 9 for outstanding. The perfect 10 has not been created!.
- Make sure your roses get enough water, food, and sun to stay healthy. Rosa plants like water, but they don’t like to sit in it, so make sure there is good drainage.
- To reduce the occurrence of disease, avoid overhead watering. When you water from above, do it in the morning so the leaves have time to dry. Instead, drip irrigation or watering by hand is a good option, especially now that we are in a drought.
- Remove old flowers and diseased foliage. Get rid of dead plants and flowers and keep the area clean. Taking care of your roses will help keep problems from happening in the future.
- Make sure you correctly identify your bug or disease problem so you can treat it correctly. Some organic products will also kill good bugs. If you’re not sure what’s wrong, call your county extension office and talk to a master gardener. If you can, try things other than products first, like getting rid of insects by hand (for Japanese Beetles) or using a strong spray of water (for aphids). Here is a list of some natural things that can be used on roses:
- Roses often grow in organic fertilizers like fish emulsion, bone meal, blood meal, alfalfa meal, rotted manure, and compost. Rose Tone is an organic fertilizer that you can get at most box stores and nurseries.
- Organic products like neem oil, pyrethrins, sabadilla, rotenone, and baking soda-based products are often used to get rid of pests and diseases.
What are the typical problems to check your roses for?Why so many people have avoided growing roses? Blackspot, Powdery Mildew, Japanese Beetles, Aphids and Thrips! Fortunately specialized breeding has made some of these problems minimal with the low maintenance varieties. But the most common problem remains Blackspot, a waterborn fungus that loves our weather.Here are a few simple steps to take to prevent Blackspot:
- Select a disease resistant variety (#1)
- Avoid overhead watering
- Don’t plant roses too close together and make sure they get enough air flow by pruning them properly.
- Make sure they get enough sun. At least 6 hours is best.
If you do notice Black Spot on your roses there are fungicides and organic remedies that can be used to treat the problem. Also available are products that can be applied to treat the problem systemically (through the roots) which can last several weeks as an alternative to spray formulas that have to be applied every 10 to 14 days.For the insects mentioned above, the most important recommendation is to check your roses occasionally and be sure to identify your insect correctly to know what product will be most useful in treating it. Sometimes a spray of water or a little hand picking will do the trick. Your county extension office is a great resource in helping to identify your rose problems.
Growing Roses, A Complete Beginner’s Guide
FAQ
Can I plant roses now in Georgia?
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What are the easiest roses to grow in Georgia?
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