How to Plant Bareroot Roses
In mild winter parts of the country where the ground doesn't freeze, it's prime bareroot rose planting season (in colder areas, plant in early spring as soon as the ground can be worked). Nurseries and garden centers are full of fresh plants, which have been dug from growing fields without any soil on their roots. Most have their roots packed in moist wood shavings and sealed in plastic. If you've ordered roses through mail order catalogs, they'll be sent to you in similar fashion.
So it's a great time to buy and plant roses. Here's the procedure, step by step:
1-Purchase quality plants. Rose plants are graded according to standards set by the American Nursery & Landscape Association. A #1 rose is the highest quality and will give you the best show the first summer. #1-1/2 and #2 grade roses are often sold at discount prices and usually won't grow as vigorously the first year. So if you want the best results, spend a little extra money and buy #1 roses. You'll find the grades on the rose packaging.
Even when you purchase #1 roses, make sure the packing around the roots hasn't dried out and that the canes are dark green. Avoid roses with dry looking, shriveled canes.
2-Soak roots over night before planting. Remove the rose from the packaging and place the roots in a bucket of muddy water (the mud will cling to the roots and help prevent them from drying out after planting). Let them soak at least overnight.
If you can't plant immediately, keep the packing around the roots moist until planting time. If it will be several weeks before you can plant, plant temporarily in containers and keep the soil moist.
3-Choose a sunny planting site. Roses need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive. If they get any less, expect fewer blooms and more disease problems.
4-Check soil pH and drainage. Dig a hole deep and wide enough to accommodate the plant's roots. Have the soil tested to make sure the pH is in the proper range for roses (5.5 to 7.0 is fine). Ask your nurseryman or cooperative extension agent how to test your soil and, if necessary, adjust the pH.
Fill the hole with water, let it drain, then fill it again. If the hole hasn't drained completely in 24 hours, you probably have a drainage problem. The easiest solution is to plant elsewhere or grow roses in pots or raised beds.
5-Plant properly. Mix the soil dug out of the hole with equal amounts organic matter, such as compost or ground bark. Place some of the mixture in the bottom of the hole, creating a cone-shaped mound. Examine the rose carefully. Prune off damaged or dead roots. Spread the roots of the rose over the mound and check planting depth. The rose should be planted at about the same level it was grown in the field (you'll see a color change on the stem) and with the bud union (the swollen part of the stem) above ground. In colder climates, plant several inches deeper so the bud union is covered with soil.
Fill the hole with soil and create a watering basin around the plant. Water well. If necessary, adjust the planting level by grasping the lower trunk and gently pulling upward. You can also add Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care Granules to help your plants get off to the right start.
6-Mulch heavily. Mulch the rose with organic matter, such as compost or ground bark. Pile the mulch up high enough to cover the canes several inches above the bud union. Covering the canes will help prevent them from drying out.
7-Fertilize and protect from insects. Once the plant begins to leaf out, pull the mulch away from the stems, fertilize and watch out for insect pests like aphids. To fertilize and protect from insects in one easy step, apply Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care Granules. One application protects for up to 6 weeks. Read the label and follow the directions.
Houseplant Refresher
In cold winter areas, now's a great time to give your houseplants some special attention. Move them to the kitchen or utility room sink, or somewhere they can be thoroughly watered. Fill the pots with water and let drain. Repeat this process several times to leach out any salts that may have accumulated in the soil. Wipe the leaves off with a damp cloth to remove any dust. Examine the plant carefully for signs of insects. Use Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer Concentrate to keep any insects at bay.
Products Mentioned In This Article
Bayer Advanced
