Planting a Rose Bush

Planting a rose bush sounds more complicated than it is. Get the timing, the hole, and the first watering right, and the rest follows naturally.

Timing and Location

Plant a bare-root rose in late winter; a rose already growing in a container is better planted in spring. Avoid summer planting altogether — the heat is hard on a newly disturbed root system. Before buying, pick a location that gets plenty of daily sun and has fertile, well-drained soil; asking neighbors what varieties do well nearby is a good way to shortlist choices suited to your area.

Digging In

Dig a hole at least twice the size of the rose's container — the root system needs room to spread. Mix the removed soil with compost and topsoil, adding phosphate fertilizer if needed, before returning some to the hole. Soak a bare-root rose for a couple of hours before planting, then trim the root tips with pruning shears. Mound soil at the bottom of the hole, drape the roots over it, and backfill about two-thirds of the way before watering — let it drain, then finish filling and water again. Afterward, give the new bush about an inch of water a week, adjusting for climate, and watch the leaves: drooping means it needs water, while yellowing and dropping leaves usually mean it's getting too much.