Bare root roses are roses in their dormant state, delivered without foliage or soil. Light and easy to handle, bare root roses are great for mass planting, and once planted, will quickly sprout and produce abundant flowers in their first summer. Today, we’re going to show you the where, when, and how of planting bare root roses!

By following these simple steps, you will ensure your bare root rose gets off to the best possible start! 

We recommend following these guidelines:

– Make sure the rose has ample sun, ideally at least 4-5 hours of sunlight a day.
– Generally, the more sun the better.
– Ensure the rose has enough space, so that the roots do not suffer from intense competition from    neighboring plants, including trees and hedges.
 

Bare root roses are best planted between January and Late February. This gives them time to establish and be ready to bloom come summer. The only time we recommend that you don’t plant is when the ground is waterlogged.

Step 1: Rehydrate your rose in a bucket of diluted Fertilome Root Stimulator for 4-12 hours prior to planting.

Step 2: Dig over the soil thoroughly, using the garden fork and remove any weeds or large stones. This will ensure that the new roots can venture freely into their new environment. Roses will grow in most soil types.

Step 3: Dig a hole big enough for the rose’s roots, approximately 16″ wide by 16″ deep, using a spade.

Step 4: Break up the soil at the base of the hole with a fork, and mix a spadeful of Michigan Peat in with the soil at the bottom of the hole. Also, mix two spadefuls of manure with the soil removed from the hole.

Step 5: Remove the bare root rose from the bucket of water and while holding the rose over the planting hole, sprinkle the roots with a Mycorrhizal Fungi like Bio-Tone Starter fertilizer.

Step 6: Position the rose in the center of the hole. Make sure the grapht is level with the top of the hole. The grapht should NOT fall below the top of the hole.

Step 7: Backfill around the roots of the rose, using Michigan peat. Then, lightly firm the soil around the rose with your foot or use the garden hose to eliminate air pockets.

Step 8: Water daily after planting, and roughly 5-6 gallons each week once established. This is the equivalent to about one inch of rainfall. Please note, the hotter the weather, the more water they’ll need. When in doubt, stick your finger in the soil to assess moisture levels.

Fertilize using Rose-Tone once a month, March 1st through October 1st to promote healthy growth.