Planting a bare root rose

Planting a Bare Root Rose

Winter - late October to March - is the time to plant trees, shrubs, hedges and bare root roses. In this lesson we demonstrate how to plant a David Austin rose that has just arrived in the post.

How to Plant a Bare Root Rose:

1. Soak the root in water for a few hours.
2. Shape the plant by removing any weak, wispy or crossed-over shoots to create a goblet-like form with strong, well-spread-out stems.
3. Don't cut the stems too close to the roots; take off only a few centimetres from the top if there is still a risk of frost. Cut the stem at a slant above a bud. Shape the roots by cutting off any weak ends and place them in a good-sized hole that has been partly filled with climate compost - or sprinkle mycorrhizal fungi plant enhancer to stimulate root growth.
4. Top up with loose soil and back-fill the hole, ensuring that the grafting point is about 3cm below the surface of the soil.

Note: If the grafting point is not covered with soil, the original graft root stock will take over and will produce a dog rose instead of a specimen plant.

Suppliers of Bare Root Roses

• David Austin Roses
• Peter Beales Roses
• Trevor White Roses
• Regan Nursery

Plant Directory

Achillea millefolium

common name: yarrow

Alchemilla mollis

common name: lady's mantle

Allium schoenoprasum

common name: chives

Amelanchier

common name: shadbush

Ammi

common names: ammi, bishop's flower, Queen Anne's lace

Anemone

common names: poppy anemone, windflower

Anemone hupehensis

common name: Japanese anemone

Anethum graveolens

common name: dill

Angelica

common name: wild celery

Anthriscus sylvestris

common name: cow parsley

Antirrhinum

common name: snapdragon

Astrantia

common name: masterwort

Buxus

common name: box

Camassia

common names: camas, bear's grass, camash

Camassia quamash

common name: camas

Camellia

common name: camellia

Campanula

common name: bellflower

Celia, Phacelia

common name: green manure

Centaurea cyanus

common name: cornflower

Centranthus ruber

common names: red valerian, spur valerian, devil's beard, Jupiter's beard

Cephalaria gigantea

common name: giant scabious

Cerinthe

common name: honeywort

Chaenomeles

common name: Japanese quince

Cosmos

common name: cosmos

Varieties -

'Cupcakes'

'Dazzler'

'Purity'

Crataegus monogyna

common name: hawthorn

Crocus

common name: crocus

Cyclamen

common name: cyclamen

Dahlia

common name: dahlia

Delphinium

common names: delphinium, larkspur, consolida

Deutzia

common name: snow flower

Digitalis

common name: foxglove

Eranthis

common name: aconite

Eranthis hyemalis

common name: aconite

Eriogonum fasciculatum

common name: common buckwheat

Euphorbia oblongata

common name: egg leaf spurge

Foeniculum vulgare

common name: fennel

Galanthus

common name: snowdrop

Gypsophila

common name: baby's breath

Helleborus

common name: hellebore

Helleborus argutifolius or Helleborus corsicus

common name: Corsican hellebore

Helleborus nigra

common name: Christmas rose

Helleborus orientalis

common name: Lenten rose

Hesperis

common name: sweet rocket

Hesperis matronalis

common names: dame's-violet, dame's rocket

Hyacinthus

common name: hyacinth

Hydrangea

common name: hydrangea

Iris

common name: iris

Isatis tinctoria

common names: woad, dyer's weed, ash of Jerusalem

Lathyrus odoratus

common name: sweet pea

Leucanthemum vulgare

common name: ox-eyed daisy

Lilium lancifolium

common name: tiger lily

Lilium martagon

common name: martagon lily

Lilium regale

common name: royal lily

Linaria purpurea

common name: purple toadflax

Lonicera fragrantissima

common name: winter honeysuckle

Lupinus

common name: lupin

Malus

common names: apple, crab apple

Mentha

common name: mint

Narcissus

common names: narcissus, daffodil, jonquil

Narcissus papyraceus

common name: paperwhite

Nepeta

common names: catmint, catnip

Nicotiana

common name: tobacco plant

Ornithogalum

common name: star-of-Bethlehem

Paeonia

common name: peony

Varieties -

'Coral Charm'

'Duchesse de Nemours'

'Monsieur Jules Elie'

'Mother's Choice'

'Nick Shaylor'

'Sarah Bernhardt'

'Vogue'

Papaver

common name: poppy

Pastinaca sativa

common name: parsnip

Penstemon

common name: beard tongue

Petroselinum crispum

common name: flat-leaf parsley

Phacelia tanacetifolia

common name: phacelia

Phaseolus coccineus

Phaseolus coccineus variety 'Sunset'

common name: runner bean

Philadelphus

common name: mock orange

Phlomis russeliana

common names: Jerusalem sage, Turkish sage

Phlox

common name: phlox

Primula vulgaris

common name: primrose

Prunus

common name: cherry

Prunus autumnalis

common name: winter-flowering cherry

Prunus spinosa

common name: blackthorn

Prunus x subhirtella

common name: winter-flowering cherry

Pyrus

common name: pear

Rhinanthus minor

common name: yellow rattle

Ribes

common name: currant

Rosa

common name: rose

Varieties -

'Complicata'

'Nevada'

'Dupontii'

Rosmarinus

common name: rosemary

Salvia

common name: sage

Salvia uliginosa

common name: bog sage

Scabiosa

common name: scabious

Scilla

common names: squill, bluebell

Syringa

common name: lilac

Tanacetum parthenium

common name: feverfew

Tellima

common name: tellima

Tulipa

common name: tulip

Valeriana officinalis

common name: valerian

Verbena bonariensis

common names: verbena, vervain, purple top

Viburnum opulus

common name: guelder rose

Viola

common name: viola

Supplier Directory

Seed, Bulb and Plant Suppliers

UK

• Aylett Nurseries
• Blackmore & Langdon's
• Burford Garden Co.
• Charlie McCormick
• Chiltern Seeds
• Crocus
• David Austin Roses
• Garden Organic
• Gilbert's Dahlias
• Halls of Heddon
• Harts Nursery
• J. Parkers
• Mr Fothergill's
• Parkers Wholesale
• Peter Beales Roses
• Peter Nyssen
• Pheasant Acre Plants
• Polly Nicholson, Bayntun Flowers
• Sarah Raven
• Thompson Morgan
• Trevor White Roses

US

• Central Coast Wilds
• High Country Gardens
• Nasami Farm
• Nature Hills
• Prairie Moon Nursery
• Regan Nursery
• Wilcox Nursery

Climate Compost Suppliers

The Land Gardeners

Secateurs

• Felco
• Niwaki

Plant Labels

• Andrew Crace
• Nutley's Copper Plant Labels
• Wells & Winter

Gloves

• Showa

Shears

• Jakoti Hand Shears

Ironmongery

• Leander Architectural

Books & Resources

Books

Soil to Table - co-written by The Land Gardeners and Lulu Cox

Blogs

Floret Flowers - Erin Benzakein, flower farmer, seed grower and author

Useful Contacts

• National Dahlia Society
• National Dahlia Collection
• Royal Horticultural Society