The best time to plant roses is after the last frost in the spring, or at least 6 weeks before the first expected frost in the fall. Fall planting can be a bit tricky because the roots need time to establish and really dig into the soil before the rose plant goes dormant during the winter time.
Once you’ve selected the sunny, well-drained spot for planting, it’s time to prepare the soil. The way you plant a rose depends on whether it is bareroot or a container pot rose.
To plant bareroot roses:
Remove plants from their packaging and soak their roots in a bucket of tepid water for an hour.
Use a measuring tape to measure the length of the roots (from the tip of the roots to where the roots meet the stem).
Dig a hole that is two inches shallower than the length of the roots and twice as wide.
Apply 1.25 cups Espoma Rose-Tone around each rose and scratch the fertilizer into the top inch of soil to help ensure that roses receive ample nutrition while establishing new roots in the garden.
Using the soil mixture (or potting mix for containers), build a mound in the planting hole that almost reaches to top of the hole.
Spread the roots evenly over the mound.
Fill in the hole completely with more of the soil mixture, covering the roots. Pack it firmly.
Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch on the surface of the planting hole, to help conserve moisture in the soil.
Water thoroughly.
Planting roses that come in containers:
Remove the rose plant from the pot.
Use a measuring tape to measure the height of the root ball.
Dig a planting hole that is two inches shallower than the height of the root ball, and twice as wide.
Place the plant in the planting hole. The top of the root ball should be about an inch above the edge of the hole. (Soil will settle over time, so you don’t want to plant the rose too deep.)
Apply 1.25 cups Espoma Rose-Tone around each rose and scratch the fertilizer into the top inch of soil to help ensure that roses receive ample nutrition while establishing new roots in the garden.
Cover the surface of the planting hole with 2 inches of mulch, to help keep soil moist.
Water thoroughly.