How to Grow Bare Root Roses

When a rose bush goes dormant in the winter, it can be removed from the ground and transported and stored with no detriment to the plant. When you purchase your bare root rose it won't look very attractive; in fact, it will look like it's dead. But, planted properly and given the right care, your bare root rose will fill your garden with color for years to come.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bucket large enough to hold the rose
• Water
• Shovel
• Compost

1. Fill the bucket with water and place the stalk of the plant in the water until the roots are completely immersed. Let it soak for 3 hours.

2. Choose a spot in your garden that gets full sun for at least 6 hours a day.

3. Dig a hole, 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep, mixing the soil you've removed with about 1 cubic foot of the compost.

4. Form a 10-inch mound in the bottom of the planting hole. Place the rose in the hole, spreading the roots over the mound.

5. Backfill with the soil/compost mixture, firming the soil with your hand as you backfill. Water until the soil is saturated and the water pools.

6. "Puddle it in." This is a process of rocking the rose, back and forth, to release air pockets.When finished, the roots of the rose should be just below the surface of the mud.

7. Backfill with soil until the surface is level.

8. Form a basin around the base of the rose, 3 inches high and 10 inches away from the plant.

References

• Sunset

Resources

• Fiskar's