What is a bare root rose? #
Bare root roses are young dormant rose plants that have short pruned stems and exposed roots without soil. They are lifted from the ground during the winter after 18 months of growth and soon after packaged for delivery. Arriving unpotted without foliage or flowers, they are ready for planting straight away. Once planted, they will be able to make fast shoot growth in the spring.
What are the benefits of bare root roses? #
Sustainable #
As bare root roses do not need soil or a pot, they require less packaging for transportation. In turn, this makes them easier, cheaper and more sustainable to send.
Faster Growth Rate in Spring #
Buying bare root roses can also benefit the rate of growth of the rose. since they can concentrate on establishing a healthy root system first, leading to faster growing foliage in the spring than newly planted potted roses.
What is the difference between bare root roses and potted roses? #
Bare root roses are younger dormant plants. They are sold with exposed roots devoid of soil and without foliage, to be planted immediately upon arrival. They are best planted in November to establish their root system in preparation for the growing period in Spring.
Potted roses however are already established, allowing for year-round planting into either the ground or containers. Arriving potted and planted in peat-free compost, they can stay in their container until the end of the season.
As bare root roses need planting soon after arrival, they are usually more suited to the avid gardener as they need slightly more attention from the recipient than a potted rose. As we want to provide gifts for all, we have made the decision to only sell potted roses. Our specialist Rose Care Team will handle the hard parts for you, sending you a healthy rose bush which is ready for planting or re-potting in your garden.
When are bare root roses available to order? #
Bare root roses are usually available from November – March. However, this can vary between suppliers.
This type of rose is purchased and planted during its dormant phase so they have no foliage or flowers. The stems are pruned short and delivered without soil.
How long does it take for bare root roses to grow? #
If planted and cared for over the winter, you can expect to see your bare root rose growing foliage in the spring.
Particularly in their first summer, bare root roses can often grow quicker than newly planted/potted roses.
During November and March, bare root roses concentrate their energy on establishing a healthy root system below the soil. This means that once spring begins, the plant’s energy is redirected to growing foliage, buds and eventually blooms.
Whereas, rose bushes that are newly potted/planted in the spring will be focusing on growing both an established root system and new foliage at the same time. This consequently slows down their growing rate during their first spring and summer.
How long does it take for bare root roses to flower? #
As long as your rose has received the care it requires over the winter months, you should start to see your bare root rose burst into flower during the summer. Some varieties have a longer flowering period and can continue to create beautiful blooms into the early autumn. The flowering period of your bare root rose will also depend on seasonal, environmental and weather conditions.
How do I plant my bare root rose? #
- Remove the bare root rose from all of the packaging. Store the rose in a cool, dark place away from strong wind and frost.
- We find it is best to plant your rose on the day of delivery, however it will be fine for up to 48 hours if stored in a cool, dark place. If you are not ready to plant your bare root rose, you can store it for up to 2 weeks. It is vital that it is stored in a dark and cool place, such as a shed or garage, away from wind and frost and kept moist at all times. You can achieve this by wetting the roots and covering them with wet compost or newspaper.
- Lightly prune the stems and roots to help promote new growth.
- Soak the roots in a bucket of water for at least 1 – 2 hours before planting.
- Dig a hole and prepare the soil. This needs to be big enough for the roots, approx 16″ (40cm) wide by 16″ (40cm) deep. Break up the soil at the base of the hole with a fork.
- Sprinkle mycorrhizal fungi evenly onto the base of the planting hole.
- Place the bare root rose in the centre with the base of the stems about 5cm below the soil.
- Fill in the hole with a good quality loam based compost and lightly press the soil around the plant.
- Water regularly. Water your rose well and then keep doing this regularly so it doesn’t dry out.
- Continue watering and wait until spring when you can expect to see new growth and foliage. Then, when the warm summer months come around, you will be able to enjoy all the beautiful blooms your rose produces!
Rose Care Supplies & Equipment #
We have a range of rose care essentials, carefully chosen to make planting and caring for your rose straightforward and hassle-free.
From our specially formulated Protect & Grow Rose Feed, to RHS endorsed gloves and pruners, rose care has never been so simple!
When is the best time to plant bare root roses? #
November is generally regarded as the best time to plant roses. However the bare root season typically stretches between October – March. The ground conditions in late autumn and early spring generally makes planting easier, as you’ll want to avoid planting in frozen or waterlogged soil. As the rose will be dormant during this period, it’ll be easier to handle during the planting process. Roses start to come out of their dormant phase around March, so this is when the bare root season ends.
How long can bare root roses be stored before planting? #
Bare root roses can be stored for up to 2 weeks before planting. However, they must be kept in a cool, dark place away from strong wind and frost. The roots must also be kept moist and never be left to dry out. You can achieve this by wetting the roots and covering them with wet compost or newspaper. Alternatively, you can temporarily ‘heel them in’ by loosely covering the bare root plant with moist soil. To heel them in, place the plant at a 45 degree angle in a trench or bucket located in a dark, shady area. Then, loosely cover it with soil until you are ready to plant it in its new position.
Should you prune bare root roses? #
When you receive your bare root rose, the stems and roots will have been pruned for the bare root season already. However, we advise that you lightly prune them again before planting to promote new growth. We also recommend pruning away any damaged or weak roots and stems. This will ensure your plant has a great start to growing.
In February/March, while the rose is still dormant, we recommend lightly pruning the stems of the rose. This will take off any tips that may have been damaged by frost over the winter and encourage healthy growth to start forming once spring begins.
FAQs & Troubleshooting Advice: #
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We recommend that you plant your bare root rose as soon as possible. However, if you cannot plant it straight away (such as due to the frozen ground or severe weather conditions), it is important to keep your bare root rose in a cool, dark place.
It is also vital that you keep your bare root rose moist and free from frost. An ideal storage location would be in a dark area of a garden shed or garage for up to 2 weeks.
Alternatively, you can temporarily ‘heel them in’ by loosely covering the bare root plant with soil. Place the plant at a 45 degree angle in a trench or bucket located in a dark, shady area, then loosely cover it with moist soil until you are ready to plant it in its new position.
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Bare root roses are in a dormant state and will not have any leaves during the winter months. Roses are deciduous plants. They will naturally lose their leaves in the autumn and grow new foliage in the spring. You should start to see new foliage growing on your rose by April/May.
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Since bare root roses are dormant and pruned down, they don’t look very lively over the winter months. Do not worry as this is how they are supposed to look and they will not produce any new foliage until the warmer spring months.
However, there are some signs you should look out for that may indicate your rose is unwell or damaged. Firstly, we recommend checking to see if there is any mould, rot, mildew or odour. It is also important to ensure that the roots have not dried out. Ideally the roots and stems should feel firm and moist. Please prune away any unhealthy roots that look damaged, light, limp or mushy.
If you are still concerned about whether your rose is alive, you can try pruning the stems. Green growth inside the stem is a good sign that your rose is alive and growing. The speed in which your rose grows will depend on which variety it is. Some rose varieties grow faster than others and the growth rate can also be impacted by the different seasons and weather conditions. Sometimes, your bare root rose will just need a bit more time and care, so please don’t give up on it.
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If you find mould on your bare root rose, we advise washing the mould off with water.
If it is on a smaller area, you can also prune off that section.
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If your bare root rose has red and white shoots on the roots, this means your bare root rose is starting to grow and should be planted right away. Don’t prune them off as they are healthy signs that your rose’s roots are ready to grow.
Rose Care Help Guides #
Would you like more information about caring for your roses? Read our handy how-to guides and other rose care information from our expert Rose Care Team.
Alternatively, contact us and our knowledgeable team will be happy to help!
Keep In Touch #
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