Our Rosarian's Step By Step Guide To Planting A Bare Root Rose
Step 1. Prepare your hole
To plant a bare root rose make sure that the hole is wide enough for the roots to comfortably spread out and deep enough so that the graft point (union) will be approximately an inch below soil level. This is to reduce the risk of suckers developing and damage from high winds. Digging a hole that is approximately a spades width by a spades depth is usually a good measure.
Step 2. Apply mychorrhizal fungi to the roots
Next sprinkle Mychorrhizal Fungi directly onto the roots of the rose and into the planting hole. Our Rosarian's recommend using Peter Beales Roots Boost, as it contains essential ingredients and mychorrhizal fungi, which will attach to the roots of the plant making it easier for them to uptake the essential nutrients and water needed for initial healthy growth.
Step 3. Place your bare root in the hole
Hold the rose with one hand, to ensure that it will be planted at the correct planting depth and that its roots are spread. Start to add the compost mix to the hole until it is approximately half full. The rose can now stand on its own and the soil can be firmed with a heel. Continue to fill the hole and firm as required.
Step 4. Firm the soil with your heel.
It is important to firm the soil around your newly planted rose to make sure that there are no air pockets present around the roots. Don’t forget at this point to make sure that your rose is labelled! It can be incredibly frustrating when you can’t remember what your beautiful new roses are called. Especially if you want to recommend them to friends.
5. Water your rose
Once your rose is firmly planted in the ground, give it a water to make sure that the roots stay hydrated.
Frequently asked questions
A bare root rose is a young rose plant in its dormant state, consisting of just the pruned stems and roots without any leaves, flowers or foliage on it.
Bare root roses are the cheaper, more affordable way to buy a rose and they are also easier to transport than potted roses, which is helpful if you are buying roses in bulk for larger garden projects such as hedging.
Buying a bare-root rose and planting it during the winter months also gives the rose more time to establish stronger roots before it starts shooting new growth in the spring.
Our bare root roses are available to buy through the winter months each year, starting from mid-November. If there is a bare root you want to order outside of this time, you can pre-order it on our website for delivery from mid-November.
No, you don’t need to plant your bare root rose as soon as it arrives; you can leave it in the clear bag it is packaged in for up to a week, as long as it is in a cool, shady area that is no more than five or six degrees.
If you are still not ready to plant the rose after a week, we recommend storing it in a bucket of cold water for up to two weeks.
Bare root roses need to be planted during the dormant season, from November to early March at the very latest, but the earlier you plant your rose, the more time the roots will have to establish before the spring.
When choosing where to plant a rose, we advise looking at the label on the bare root. This will give you a rough idea of the size the rose will grow to within two to three years and help you choose the best location for planting it in your garden.
For best results with your bare root, we wouldn’t advise planting your rose after March, as this doesn’t give the rose enough time to establish strong roots before it enters its growing state. This means that it would need a lot more watering and feeding to become a sturdy plant and it may not produce flowers in its first year.
Yes. Once you receive your bare root rose, you need to soak it in a bucket of water for at least a couple of hours before you plant it. This rehydrates the roots so that they can absorb water from the soil once it has been planted.
At Peter Beales Roses we would advise planting your bare root in freshly prepared soil with a bit of Mycorrhizal Fungi sprinkled over the roots. The most important part of planting a bare root is to make sure the union of the rose is planted at least an inch below the ground and that the roots are sitting firmly within the soil.
Scroll to the top of the page to watch our tutorial for everything you need to know.
If you are worried that your bare root might not be alive once you have planted it, you can use a knife, some secateurs or your fingernail and slightly scrape back the bark on a little section of one of the stems. If it is green underneath, then your rose is happy and healthy and will have new growth on it in the spring.
Bare root roses don’t require a lot of maintenance until the ground starts to warm up at the beginning of spring.
As it gets to the end of February, you can add a layer of mulch and some slow-release fertiliser around the base of your rose to boost the nutrients in the soil. Then, once your rose starts to produce new growth, it is important to make sure it is getting plenty of water, and feed the rose every couple of weeks.
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