Bareroot Roses

These rose roots can be damaged very quickly and easily if you let them dry out. Reputable nurseries ship the roses in such a way as to prevent this drying out. Canes are waxed for this reason and you can ignore this wax, the plant will outgrow it.

The first rule then is to never let your roses sit around when you receive them. Get them into the ground the day you receive them.

Sticking the roots in a bucket of warm water for an hour or three before planting is often recommended. This doesn’t hurt and it may indeed help. Do not leave them in the bucket drowning longer than this or you’ll run the risk of harming them.

Never let the roses sit in the hot sun unattended. This is a recipe for disaster. I recommend you get the planting hole dug and then take the rose from its protective packing or bucket immediately into the hole. Letting it dry out in a hot sunny day is asking for root loss.

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I’ve read advice that suggests you prune off rose roots so the tops and the bottoms match. This is wrong! Never prune off healthy roots. You can prune off damaged or broken roots as close to the damage as possible but never cut off a good root. The roots will provide enough energy to grow great tops (it is faster and easier to grow great tops than it is to grow healthy roots).

You can prune off damaged or dead tops the same way.

And finally, ensure the planting hole is big enough for your bareroot roses. Dig a 2-dollar hole for a 1-dollar plant.

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