Bare Root Roses

Bare Root Rose planting time:  Approximately 10 minutes

Tools: Shovel, compost and water

Bare root roses look dead when they come from the nursery with their brown roots and dormant stem, but if you want an easy and fast way of planting roses without the concern of transplant shock, then you'd want to go with bare root roses.

Step 1:

• Find a spot for your Bare Root Rose that gets at least six hours of full sun and dig a hole approximately 18 inches wide and 18 inches deep.
• Add some compost and mix well with the soil.
• Form a mound of the mixture at the bottom of the hole.

Step 2:

• Position the bare root rose on the soil mound. 
• In warmer climates, position the bare root rose so that the bud union is at or just above ground level.
• In colder climates, position the bud union 1 to 2" below ground level.

Step 3: 

• Work the soil mixture around the bare roots to eliminate any air pockets.
• Firm soil around the roots and add more soil until the hole is 3/4 full.

Step 4:

• To help the plant settle in, fill the hole with water and let it soak in, then refill.
• Trim canes so they're approximately 8 inches, making angled cuts 1/4 inch above outward facing buds.
  
  
  

Step 5:

• Create a 6-inch soil mound over the plant to protect canes from drying out.
• When buds sprout - about two weeks - remove the mound.
  
  
  
  

If you need help buying bare root roses, please refer to our buying roses section.

AARS wishes you the best of luck with your bare root roses!
Please contact us for more helpful tips, images and interviews with rose experts: rose@rose.org or 415-381-5055.