I would order own-root bands, instead, which can be planted now with no risk as long as they get the proper care. By the end of the summer you will hardly tell that they are own-root instead of grafts!

Where are you in the midwest? Austin roses tend to do very well here; I have several, myself.

It is getting late for bareroots. If you do decide to go with bands then get them ordered right away. You want to give them as much time as possible before winter. I'd say you only have another week or two before it is getting too late for any type of rose. The latest that I've planted bareroots was late May and the latest that I've planted potted roses was late June, and those didn't do much their first year. You might want to only order a few this year and do a bigger order next spring.

At this point in time your probably better off planting a grafted or own-root potted rose if you need to plant now.
I do know potted own-roots need at least 12 weeks of growing time before your first major frost to have any chance at all of surviving winter. (Generally speaking.)
But, maybe someone else with some tricks up there sleeves can guide you on how to keep a bare-root alive at this time of the season?
Any takers?

I've planted bare roots in July in Georgia. You can do it. My concern wouldn't be with the weather, but the quality of the stock that they have at this point. I bought some bargain roses at DA 2 years ago late in the season and they looked horrible from the get go and only one survived. If it's not a lot of $$, I'd risk it. IF you were planning on a huge order, I'd wait till next spring. Were you ordering direct from David Austin?

Buford's point is a good one. The reason the company withholds the warranty may have less to do with your climate than with the fact that the roses have been in cold storage since November.

Late bare-roots can succeed if you pre-soak them and mound up or spray with anti-transpirant. Some may not break dormancy.

Bare-roots planted next spring will make bigger plants next season than bands planted this June.

Where are you in Michigan? If you are in the tri county area (Detroit & suburbs) let me know and I'll give you a few roses to start off your garden. I'll also let you know which nurseries in the area have the best selection of plants.

Thanks for the help. I appreciate the info on own-root roses also. I really like that idea. I'd read something about them quite a while ago that led me to believe they were somehow less hardy, so I've never tried them. Lot's of confusing info out there.

Greenhaven, I'm in S Mich, close to where the MI, OH, & IN borders meet. I think that's 5a. Which Austins do well for you there in 4b-5a? My first ever rose (and still my favorite) is Abe Darby. It's one that I ordered and was hoping would do well here. It was a small climber for me in Kansas City. Lillian Austin, Tamora, Graham Thomas and Pat Austin did best for me. I had the worst time with Winchester Cathedral. I never could figure out what went wrong there.

I've decided to cancel my order, so I remain roseless for another year. It's a little disheartening.

Anyone have experience with English roses in this zone? Are there some that might do better in Mich winters? ....or some that I might want to avoid? Seems tricky relying on catalog descriptions sometimes. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Researching them will help ease my suffering until next spring. Thanks for your time and wisdom.

Yup, I placed my order through DA's website...but canceled it. Mgleason, I'm in between Jackson & Coldwater, and I couldn't even find a nusery anywhere that carried English roses. Maybe I started looking too late. Do you know of any good places in Ann Arbor? I get over there now and then.

It is not nearly too late for bands....I have planted them as late as August with tremendous success and zero failures, and I am zone 5.

beezray, I would ask you to be more specific about what you mean when you say "english roses," because that automatically conjures up Austins, in my mind. :o) Among other I grow Windermere, Lilac Rose, Happy Child and Jude the Obscure. I have seven new bands potted and waiting for their new homes. Windermere by FAR has been my best performer! It is hard to get ahold of, though. I have only ever seen it at a garden center near here as a potted rose, and now even they are not carrying it this year. If you can get ahold of brother_cadfael he can tell you tales about his success with Austins, in Milwaukee winters and zero protection. Or search, for some amazing photos!

beezray, check it out; how timely! maybe not 'english' roses per se, but possibly right up your alley:

Here is a link that might be useful: Old Garden Roses on sale at Heirloom Roses

I have also planted baby own-root bands in late July with success. No winter protection was used. I like and only grow own-roots.
But, do some research and get the roses you want. Whether there Grafted/own-root/ potted/bare-root/ whatever.
Best of luck!

Agree with the comments about how long the bareroot stock has been the cooler. If they lifted them from the fields only a few months ago, go for it.

Regarding planting bareroots now. I'm in the midst of planting 240 just arrived from France after 2 weeks in transit, inspection and being lost in a warehouse. They look, and are doing, just fine.

Paul

My experience has been that the own root roses planted later (June-July) don't grow as much as the roses planted even a few weeks earlier (May). That cool bit at the beginning of summer is very easy on new roses and they grow more then. The late planted roses don't do as well over winter and don't start as strong in the spring. So they end up about the same as if you had waited a year and planted in the spring.

For Austins I have Golden Celebration, Jude the Obscure, the Prince, and Princess Margarite (or however she spells her name). Princess is new last year and I didn't see much from it but it looks good this spring. The others I've had for a while and they do very well for me.