Planting your Rose

Bare root roses

Bare root roses are dormant plants that have been grown in open fields and lifted during their natural resting period. They’re best planted between October and early April, as long as the ground isn’t frozen.

When your rose arrives, soak the roots in water for a couple of hours—ideally overnight—before planting. Dig a hole wide enough to allow the roots to spread comfortably. If you’re not able to plant it straight away, you can keep the roots wrapped or place them in damp compost in a cool, frost-free spot for up to a week.

Don’t worry if the roots appear trimmed—this is often done to encourage stronger growth. Avoid placing the rose indoors or in a greenhouse before planting, as this can prompt early growth that may be damaged by frost.

When planting, ensure the hole is deep enough so that the graft union (the swollen area where the rose is grafted onto the rootstock) sits just below soil level. Loosen the soil at the base of the hole to help the roots establish, and mix in some well-rotted manure or garden compost. Sprinkling the roots with mycorrhizal fungi can also give them a great start.

Position the rose in the centre of the hole, backfill with a mix of soil and compost, and firm it in gently. Shape the soil slightly so that rainwater is directed towards the roots. Water thoroughly, and once growth begins in spring, continue watering regularly until the plant is well established.

Potted roses

Potted roses are initially field-grown for strength and vigour, then lifted during dormancy and potted up in our nursery. These can be planted at any time of year, provided the ground isn’t frozen or heavily frosted.

They’ll arrive in a nursery pot, but they’ll need to be replanted into the ground or a larger container fairly soon, as they won’t thrive long-term in the nursery pot.

Before planting, stand the pot in a bucket of water to hydrate the roots. Dig a hole larger than the pot—around 60 cm across and deeper than the container. Break up the removed soil and mix it with compost and some well-rotted manure. You can also sprinkle mycorrhizal fungi onto the roots.

Place the rose in the centre of the hole and backfill with the soil mixture. Firm it in and water thoroughly.

Planting in containers

If you’re planting a rose in a container, choose one that’s at least 40 cm wide and deep, with a capacity of around 25 litres or more.

Use a loam-based compost that drains well, and mix in some rose fertiliser. Follow the same planting method as for ground planting, but avoid adding other plants to the container—roses prefer not to be crowded.

Each spring, remove the top 5 cm of compost and replace it with fresh compost, adding rose fertiliser to keep your plant healthy and blooming beautifully.