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When To Plant Roses in Zone 7 – Full Guide (+ Winter Care)

Roses thrive in Hardiness Zones 3 to 10 and can flourish even in Zone 7 with proper environmental conditions.

Even though roses need their chill hours in the winter, too much chilly weather could impact the flowering time and bloom abundance. 

When should you plant roses in Zone 7? To ensure that roses have a good start in Zone 7, plant them either in March or April. Start the roses after the threat of the last frost is over and the soil is workable. If the temperature dips below 40℉, the roses will have stunted growth and the root system will not develop fully.

Far from being hardy plants, roses require extensive care and the right conditions to thrive and reward you with their delightful blooms year in and year out.

Read more to find out how to plant roses in Zone 7 and how to provide adequate winter care so that you can enjoy lovely, fragrant blossoms for years to come.

Planting Roses in Zone 7

Zone 7 limits your options when it comes to planting roses.

While in Zones 8 to 10 you can safely plant bare-root roses any time in the spring, summer, or fall, in Zone 7 you need to wait for the temperature to rise above 40℉ in the spring and the soil is workable. 

Best Time To Plant Roses in Zone 7

What makes zone 7 ideal for planting roses is that you can plant just about any type and cultivar of roses just about the same way.

This includes Knock Out roses, miniature roses, climbing roses, shrub roses, tea roses, and bare-root roses. 

The guidelines are simple. Wait a couple of weeks after the last frost in your area, and check that the soil is easy to work.

This depends on your microclimate, but in general, you can start planting roses in Zone 7 in the early spring between March and April.

Fall Planting Roses in Zone 7

Fall is not the ideal season to start roses in Zone 7. Roses go dormant in the winter, so your roses will only show signs of life the next spring.

However, if you still want to plant roses in the fall, you need to start them at least one month before the first frost.

Make sure the temperature doesn’t drop below -10℉ in the winter; otherwise the roses will die.

Keep the crown 1inch above the ground, and don’t fertilize the roses. Cover the soil with a thick layer of mulch to keep the roots from freezing.

How To Plant Roses in Zone 7

Early spring is the ideal time to start roses in Zone 7. You won’t have to worry about the species or cultivar since Zone 7 has the right chill hours for roses of all types.

However, roses have a delicate disposition and need the growing conditions just right. 

1. Select Ideal Location

Pick a spot in the garden that gets between 6 and 8 hours of direct sunlight. Ideally, that spot should be facing the south or west.

Make sure it’s protected against chilly drafts and strong winds. Don’t plant roses under trees that cast their shade on the roses and might damage them with fallen branches.

2. Prepare Planting Site

Remove any weeds and debris in the planting site. Dig a hole in the area you selected and make sure it’s as deep as the root ball of the rose and a few inches wider.

Mix the soil with bone meal (Espoma makes a great organic bone meal) to give the roses a good start. Don’t use any other fertilizers.

3. Plant the Rose

Build a mound in the middle of the hole on which to rest the root ball. Gently remove the rose from the pot or package it came in and ruffle the roots.

Place the roots on top of the mound in the hole, and spread them to fill up the hole. The graft union should be slightly below the surface.

Fill the hole with the soil and bone meal mixture, and firm it to push out air pockets.

4. Water and Mulch

Water the soil thoroughly to settle it around the roots of the rose. Deep watering will encourage the roots to grow deeper into the soil.

New roses will need water every other day to help them establish and trigger healthy root growth. Once the roses show signs of growth, cut back watering to once a week. 

Cover the soil around the base with a thick layer of mulch. Spread the mulch all the way over the root zone, which is a little wider than the hole you dug. 

A woman deadheading her red roses outdoors.

How Far Apart To Plant Roses

No matter what type of roses you’re planting, spacing them is crucial for their success.

The distance between the roses depends on their species, but in general, at minimum, you should keep roses between 24 inches and 36 inches apart.

Rose bushes need plenty of space to ensure ventilation and prevent fungal infestations.

Best Roses for Zone 7

Roses come in various cultivars. For Zone 7, I recommend the following hybrids:

  • Bewitched
  • Arizona
  • Eiffel Tower
  • Mr. Lincoln.
  • John F. Kennedy
  • Chrysler Imperial
  • Chicago Peach
  • Garden Party

How To Protect Roses in Winter

Start by pruning any damaged canes or branches. Build a mound around the rose between 6 and 8 inches high.

Wrap the canes with twine then cover them with burlap. Make sure the roses are not exposed to strong winds.

Related Questions:

Where Do You Cut Roses When Deadheading?

When deadheading roses, pinch the base of the rose where it meets the stem. Don’t cut off any buds or other stems.

Can You Plant Roses in Winter?

In Zones 8 and above, you can plant roses in the winter provided that the soil is not frozen and there’s no frost threat.

Roses go dormant in the winter, which minimizes the shock of planting and transplanting, so there is a benefit to planting this time of year.

Conclusion 

The best time to plant roses in Zone 7 is in the early spring when the temperature is between 40 and 60℉. Make sure the last frost is over and that the soil is workable.