Planting Timing by USDA Zone

Pick a ship week near your area’s last spring frost: mid-May to early June in zones 3 and 4, April to May in zones 5 to 7, and mid-March to April in zones 8 and warmer.

How do I choose my ship week?

1.       Find your USDA zone on our Zone Map page.

2.       Look up your area’s typical last spring frost date with your local extension office or a frost-date lookup by zip code.

3.       Choose the matching week in the table below and enter it at checkout. We ship on Mondays and Tuesdays, and orders must be received by noon Sunday Pacific Time for the following week.

When should I plant roses in my zone?

Zone	Typical last spring frost	Ship week to request	Planting notes
3	Mid-May to early June	Late May to mid-June	Wait until nights stay above freezing and the soil can be worked. Plant by early summer so roots settle before fall.
4	Early to mid-May	Mid-May to early June	Plant after the last hard frost. Protect new plants from a late frost with a cover or by bringing them in.
5	Late April to mid-May	Early to late May	Plant after the last hard frost, and by early summer.
6	Mid-April to early May	Mid-April to mid-May	Plant once hard frost is past. Water deeply through the first summer.
7	Late March to mid-April	Early April to early May	Plant on arrival. Water deeply and mulch before summer heat.
8	March to early April	Mid-March to mid-April	Plant on arrival, well before summer heat.
9	February to mid-March	Mid-March to April	Plant on arrival. Mulch, water deeply and give afternoon shade in extreme heat.
10 and 11	Little or no frost	Mid-March, or as soon as you can plant	Plant on arrival, before summer heat. Water deeply and mulch.

These are typical ranges. Local weather varies, so check your area’s frost dates and watch the forecast.

What if my roses arrive before I can plant?

Keep the roses in their pots in bright light and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Bring them inside or into a garage on nights near freezing, and ease them into full sun over several days. Plant as soon as the weather allows, because a rose left in its pot for too long loses vigor, and our warranty requires timely planting.

Can I plant roses in the fall?

In zones 3 to 5, spring planting is best, because fall-planted roses may not settle in before the ground freezes. In zones 6 and 7, early fall planting can work, but spring is safer. In zones 8 to 11, fall is an excellent time to plant, because cooler weather helps roots establish. We do ship through October, so be sure to know your zone before choosing a late shipping date.

What if I garden in Alaska, Hawaii or another unusual climate?

If you garden in zones 1 and 2 or zones 12 and 13, email admin@northlandrosarium.com before ordering. We will help you choose roses suited to your climate.