What Does It Mean When a Rose Bush Is Sent Bare Root?

Advantages

• In addition to ease of shipping, bare root roses allow gardeners to choose from hundreds of varieties that may not be available locally. Bare root roses also avoid the problem of trying to transplant established roses and risking them going into shock.

Tips

• Select a location for your rose that gets at least four to six hours of full sun daily. Roses prefer rich, loamy soil. If you have poor soil, there are many special rose fertilizers and pest control treatments on the market. Plant your roses in a well-drained area, as they will not do well in an area with poor drainage.

Before Planting

• As soon as you get the new roses, remove them from packaging and soak in water, vitamin B1 and one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water. Soak overnight or up to one week. Vitamin B1 helps the plant avoid shock and get off to a fast start, while the bleach sanitizes and may prevent some diseases such as root gall.

Planting Tips

• Dig a hole that is approximately 18 inches wide and 18 inches deep. Add compost to the hole and mix it well with the soil. Form a mound from the mixture at the bottom of the hole. Place the bare root rose on the mound. In a warmer climate, the bud union should be at or just above ground level. If you are in a colder climate, place the bud union about 1 or 2 inches below ground level.

  Gently press the soil around the roots to eliminate any air pockets. Add more soil until the hole is 3/4 full. Add water, then let it soak in. Refill again. Canes should be trimmed so that they are approximately 8 inches long with an angled cut 1/4 of an inch above the outward facing buds. After planting, create a 6-inch soil mound the base of the rose to keep the canes from drying out. Remove the mound when buds sprout.