Planting Roses

Fragrant Cloud hybrid tea rose

As requested by Rozanne, here is the information I found for when to plant roses. Click on this link http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/gardening/MP/zonemap and it will give you the perfect time to plant in your area. Below are the tips on how to plant bare root or potted roses.

Select good quality rose bushes which have not dried out in storage or shipment. Store bare root roses in a cool place if they are not to be planted immediately. Keep them moist. Soak roots before planting. (I usually will soak them in a bucket full of cold water overnight.) Potted roses may be held indefinitely before planting, provided usual watering and feeding continue. Bare root roses should be pruned back slightly before planting, cutting back to strong buds. Trim broken roots. Potted roses need to be pruned when planted.

Dig a hole at least 18 inches deep in a prepared bed, mound up the soil in the middle, and arrange the roots over this mound so that the bud union (where the rose is grafted to the root) is a couple of inches below the soil level. Cover the roots with some soil, firm the soil around the roots and water thoroughly. When the soil has settled, finish filling the hole and mound soil over the canes to conserve moisture. (Note: This is important when planting in the early spring. Don't let the rose canes dry out before the roots get a chance to grow and supply moisture to the canes!) When new growth has started, remove the mounded soil.

If you're planting later in spring, you might want to construct a watering moat around your newly planted rose; but if you're planting in fall or winter, a moat could easily drown your rose.

Roses grow best in a sunny location; six hours daily is considered a minimum for lots of blooms. Try to select a location where there will be sun for at least half the day, not too near large trees or hedges. Roses do best in relatively fine textured, but well drained, soils. Sandy loams are ideal, but any soil will work with the addition of sufficient organic material, and attention to drainage.

Hope this helps!