I like to purchase bands in fall, pot them up and schlep them. Schlep means they spend most days outdoors but come in the garage at night. During January/early February they stay in the garage. By April, I have sturdy little bushes to set out in the garden. I grow teas, chinas and polys. Yes, the schlepping is time consuming but I only have two or three roses in pots at a time and it gives me baby plants to fuss over during winter when gardening activity is limited.

The answer to your question depends on the roses you are considering buying. I have planted bands directly in the garden in fall, but they were the hardy, OGRs (hybrid chinas, gallicas, ramblers, etc.) Maybe you could get away with it with some of the older hybrid perpetuals. For teas, most hybrid teas, etc., buying bands now without a plan for overwintering them could be risky.

Getting them NOW, while there's still 2 months or so of moderate weather, is much better than waiting until November.

So, I'll ask, which ones are you looking at?

Connie

I think there are several variables that need to be considered before you make your decision. First, there's Connie's important question regarding the specific varieties that you have in mind.

Of almost equal importance is the vendor you intend to purchase from. Have you dealt with them before? Bands vary significantly from one vendor to the next. IMO, a fall order of very small bands having minimal root develpment would be a mistake -- regardless of the variety.

Just yesterday, I received email notification from a West Coast nursery that several varieties for which I've been wait-listed for a couple of years are finally available. I would order them immediately if the email had arrived at the beginning of spring instead of the beginning of autumn. Given my knowledge of the band size this vendor ships, the cost per plant, & the exorbitant cost to ship to the East Coast, I quickly concluded that it would be foolhardy to place the order. I can only hope that a few of those hard-to-find roses will still be available early next spring.

Lady Hillingdon and climbing lady Hillingdon (after Olga's photos it is hard to resist trying this even if I have to spray)

If there is a way to learn to overwinter that would keep it alive and give me something to fuss over during winter I would get it...

Tea roses are not very hardy here... I would not buy bands for fall unless you plan on offering them protection during the really cold spells. Do you have a cool basement or garage area for protecting them? You could drag them in there during the worse weather.