Simply defined, bare root roses are rosebushes that are transplanted from one garden to another. This is seen most frequently in situations where a friend, relative, or supplier gives you part or all of one of their own rosebushes. You are then left with bare root roses, named so because the roots of the plant have been pulled up with the rest of it and are now exposed to the elements. There are literally thousands of roses that can be planted bare-root; these include:
English roses
Hybrid Tea roses
Climbing roses
Landscape roses
Miniature roses
But the question remains: What do I do with these bare root roses?
Timing Is Everything
Ideally, you should plant your bare root rosebush in late winter in warmer climates, or, if you live in a colder area, early spring will work just fine. You may have gotten your plant from someone who had started growing it in a container. If that is the case, you can wait until spring to plant the rosebush with the rest of your garden.
A Soak in the Tub
First, as soon as you get home, you want to put your bare root plant into a large bucket of water. This will lightly clean off the roots and supply nourishment to the rest of the plant. Let it soak overnight…but no longer than that.
The Transplant
Dig a deep hole appropriate for the size of the bare root rosebush. Make sure the roots fit deeply and securely into the hole, and then you will want to arrange the rest of the plant so they sit comfortably on top of the root system. Fill in around the roots with soil, patting it down gently as you go. You do not want to PACK the soil in.
As you’re patting the soil, take a good look at the stalk of the plant. You should be able to see where the brown part ends and the green part begins; this shows us how deeply it was planted previously. You want to plant an inch ABOVE where it was planted before.
Water your new transplant liberally. At this stage, it is a wise idea to blanket some mulch into the soil around the freshly-watered plant. This holds the moisture in the base and roots of the rosebush. Be careful not to put the mulch too close to the stalk. As a rule of thumb, the mulch should be between an inch and a ½-inch from the stalk itself. Be sure to water your new rosebush at least once a week for optimum results.