Planting Bare Root Shrub Roses in the Ground: Step-by-Step
Bare root shrub roses are a gardener’s delight, offering a traditional, sustainable, and rewarding way to add colour and fragrance to your garden. Delivered simply as stems and roots, they are designed to work in harmony with the seasons. Planted in autumn through to spring, they settle naturally into the soil over the colder months, ready to burst into life and reward you with blooms the following year. Easy to handle, they are a dependable choice for both new and experienced gardeners.
The ideal moment is during dormancy, from late autumn to early spring. Planting at this time allows the roots to establish steadily and safely while the rose rests through winter, giving it a strong foundation for vigorous growth when spring arrives.
Your Chosen Rose
Spade
Fork
Gardening Gloves
Watering Can
Soil Improver or Well Rotted Manure
Large Bucket of Water
Roses thrive in sunlight, so choose a location with at least four hours of direct sun each day. In hotter regions, a little afternoon shade can help protect young plants. Give your rose enough space so its roots are not crowded by neighbouring plants, trees, or hedges.
Before planting, soak the roots in a bucket of water for a couple of hours to rehydrate them. If planting is delayed, keep the roses in their packaging in a cool, dry place, protected from frost, for up to three weeks.
Planting in the Ground
Step 1Prepare the soil: Dig the area thoroughly with a garden fork, removing weeds and large stones to let roots grow freely.
Step 2Dig the hole: Make a hole roughly 45 x 45 cm, slightly wider and deeper than the roots. Break up the soil at the base and mix in a spadeful of well-rotted manure or organic soil improver. Add two spadefuls of the same soil to the soil removed from the hole.
Step 3Position the rose: Place the rose in the centre of the hole, spreading the roots evenly. Ensure the bud union sits 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) below the soil surface.- Step 4Backfill and water: Fill the hole with the prepared soil, lightly firm it around the roots, and water generously to settle the soil.
Aftercare
Once planted, you can largely leave your rose to rest through the winter, confident that it is establishing strong roots. Keep the soil evenly moist if conditions are dry, and then in spring, enjoy a stunning display of new shoots and flowers. Planting bare root shrub roses in this way is a sustainable, traditional method that lets you work with nature’s rhythm: plant in autumn, let the season do its work, and be rewarded with blooms the following year.
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