Yeah, you can plant all that stuff. Once in a great while.....it must be great because I've only ever seen this in books.....frost will heave a newly-planted item out of the ground, or part way (they say), breaking roots etc in the process. Yet, as I indicated, I've never actually witnessed this.

There area few plant types which do not transplant well in the fall. I think we just covered that over in "Trees" but in any case, none of them are on your list.

+oM

Your only (possible) difficulty would be if the rose was iffy for hardiness, in which case we've had more luck planting in the spring rather than October. Sedums and spirea will be fine and would probably survive fall planting until the ground is frozen solid.

I had the same thought. In general Zone 5 is too cold for routine fall planting but each situation depends on the tolerance of the particular plants involved. The rose might be quite unsuitable or no problem, depending on how hardy the specific cultivar is.

Thanks very much. I'll wait till spring to buy the Rose, but plant the others. The rose is a new variety, called Icecap, so not sure how it'll perform yet. The weather is ideal this week with sunshine and rain so the other plants should do well. I'll withhold fertilizing till Spring.

We didn't address fertilizing, but every piece of research I've looked at indicates faster root system regrowth in a low-nitrogen soil environment. Not to anthropomorphisize this thing, but it's almost as if the roots "know" they need to expand in order to find adequate nutrients, thus the greater growth with low-N. I'd not be in any rush at all to boost nutrients.

+om

I have no problem planting trees, shrubs in the fall that are at least one whole zone hardier than mine. But any zone 7 or even 6B trees, shrubs are better off planted in Spring in my zone.

Everything I planted is hardy to zone 3/4 so they should be okay. Wisconsitom, I know sedums don't need it, neither do my grasses, but I have fertilized an existing rose plant, three rhododendrons, and a transplanted hydrangea. I'm fine with removing fertilizing from my garden routines.

Maybe far west zone 5 is different from Massachusetts zone 5. For years I have successfully planted and transplanted trees and shrubs in Fall in Massachusetts zone 5b. The three I remember that didn't make it were severely rootbound. I water deeply right through the end of November even though it means arguing with my husband about leaving the water on longer than he would like.

As an aside, planting small perennials that late is not generally successful. Buying a larger size and mulching after freeze increases chances of survival.

Here on the northern edge of zone 5 I regularly plant through October and my experience is similar to Marie's. I actually am far more successful in fall when the soil is warm but the air is cooler. Our spring has cold, sodden soils and the air can be quite warm, so it's stressful on plants in a way that fall isn't. I do mulch the ground well.

Yep....New England springs are erratic: it can snow on May 1 (later than that in NH and regions north) and hit 80 two weeks later) And a heat wave in mid-June means daily watering of newly planted trees & shrubs, which few of us can keep up with for long.