Rose Guide
How to Plant Bare-Root Roses
Soak bare-root roses for several hours, then plant while dormant in a wide hole over a cone of soil, spreading the roots and setting the graft union at the right depth. Water in deeply.
Bare-root roses are dormant, leafless plants sold with bare roots — an economical way to buy roses. Before planting, soak the roots in water for a few hours to rehydrate them.
Dig a wide hole, build a firm cone of soil in the center, and drape the roots evenly over it. Set the graft union at or just below the soil surface in cold climates, at soil level in mild ones. Backfill with improved soil, firm gently, and water deeply to settle the roots. Keep well watered as growth begins.