About Bare-Root Roses

Bare-root roses will need a bit more care at first than potted ones, but all things being equal, they will grow just fine, as roses are very resilient. The stems may not survive a harsh winter, but as long as the roots are OK, the plant will come back in the spring.

Types

There are two basic types of roses: own root and grafted root. If you order bare-root roses, they will be grafted. Basically this means that a bud from one type of rose has been grafted onto the root of another. They are easy to spot by the large knot where the root joins the stem.

Geography

The climate plays a big part in how you take care of bare-root roses from the day you get them. Plant them the right way for your hardiness zone and it will help they avoid any bacterial growth on the roses. Depending on the variety, roses can be grown as far north as hardiness zone 3. In the warmer zones--9 and 10--plant them so that the knot is about 3 fingers above the soil, but make sure the root crown is below soil level. In zones 7 and 8, it should be at soil level; in zones 5 and 6, it should be 3 fingers under the soil; and in the coldest zones, they should be a whole hand's width below the surface.

Features

"Bare root" refers to the way the roses are shipped, not to any particular variety. While hybrids are always shipped bare-rooted, other varieties can be shipped either bare-rooted or potted. Bare-rooted plants are always shipped when they are dormant. It is hard to tell just how well they will grow until they are in the ground. But most times they are perfectly fine and will grow just like potted roses.

Considerations

Bare-root roses need special care as soon as you receive them. Right away you will need to trim off any dead roots or stems. Try to order them as close to when they will be planted as possible. The roots must not be left to dry out. Put them in a bucket of water to revive the roots. If you are not going to plant them in their permanent place, plant them temporarily in another part of the garden until their plot is ready.

Expert Insight

Over the years, you will most likely notice very little difference in the way these roses grow, or the quality of the flowers, compared with other types of roses. As a matter of fact, there may be times when the bare-rooted roses do better than other types. Always order from the best nurseries, and take care of them in the winter. Use a good mulch and prune them back in the fall. Cold winter winds are one of the worse enemies of roses, so plant them in a protected area and put a protective covering around them.

Resources

• Difference between own-root and grafted-root roses
• "Rose" Magazine