Planting Bareroot Roses

Follow these steps to plant your bareroot rose

Step 1: Use the right tools

For this job, you will need the following tools: a shovel, pruning sheers, and a wheelbarrow.

Step 2: Pick an appropriate spot to plant

Your rose bush will need at least 6 hours of sun each day, so choose a sunny spot to plant.

Step 3: Clean up plant

Because there may be some damage to your bareroot rose, clip off some twigs and some tops of the canes, as well as some end of roots to promote new growth.

Step 4: Dig a hole big enough for the plant

Dig a hole that is wide enough and deep enough for the roots of your bareroot rose.  Pile some dirt back into the hole to create a cone shape mound for the roots to rest on and spread the roots over this mound.

Step 5: Cover roots with soil

Cover the roots of the your bareroot rose with soil. For a grafted rose, you want the bud union to be right around soil level, but know that this does vary by zone. In zones 6-10, the bud union should be about 1" above the soil sruface.  In zones 5 and under, it's a good idea to bury the bud union about 1" under the soil. 

Step 6: Water

Give your bareroot rose a large drink of water to settle the soil so that there is no air left around the roots.

Step 7: Mound soil around canes

Mound soil up to almost the top of the canes to protect the rose from drying out. When the shoots start to grow, pull the soil away from the plant so that rose bush is back at the proper level.