How to Plant Roses for Stunning Blooms That Last for Years

The key to growing beautiful, healthy roses is knowing how and when to plant them, as this allows these flowering shrubs to establish quickly in ideal conditions. Usually, the best time to plant roses is late fall or early spring, with spring being the best time, depending on your region, type of rose, and whether you’re planting roses in containers. To help you grow thriving bushes, we spoke to gardening experts who shared their rose-planting tips. 

When to Plant Roses

When to plant roses depends on the type of rose you grow. According to Tyler Francis, the lead farmer and co-CEO of April & Ashley, the best time to plant bare root roses is in early spring after the last frost or early fall, about six weeks before the first frost.

Meanwhile, potted rose bushes can be planted when temperatures are above freezing and the ground is workable. This can range from March to May, says Faith Callan, garden and landscape manager at Goodstone Inn & Restaurant. Avoid planting when it's too hot or too cold, as potted roses will struggle to adjust.

How to Plant Bare Root Roses

Learn how to plant bare root roses by following these simple steps.

1. Unbox your bare-root roses and soak the roots in a bucket of water for at least two hours. Make sure the entire root is submerged underwater, says Francis. Soaking the plant will rehydrate the roots and prepare the roses for planting.
2. Find a planting site with well-draining soil that receives at least six hours of full sun daily. “A little shade will be just fine—as long as the sun is hitting the rose during the morning and early afternoon hours,” Francis says.
3. Prepare the soil by removing any weeds or stones. Next, dig a hole twice the size of the plant’s roots.
4. Plant your rose and backfill the hole with a mixture of 50 percent native soil and 50 percent potting soil containing organic matter.
5. After backfilling the hole, lightly press down on the soil with your foot or hands until the rose is secured in place, says Francis.
6. Water generously to saturate the soil evenly around its roots. This will also eliminate any air pockets to ensure your rose gets the oxygen it needs, he says.
7. Finally, add a 1 to 2-inch layer of mulch around the base of the rose. This will provide a layer of protection and keep the soil moist.

How to Plant Potted Roses in the Ground

Planting a potted rose is a relatively simple process, and doesn't require a soaking period.

1. Find a planting site with well-draining soil that receives at least six hours of full sun daily.
2. Prepare the soil by removing any weeds or stones. Next, dig a hole twice the size of the plant's rootball.  
3. Amend the soil with bone meal and a supplement that contains phosphorous or calcium, says Callan.
4. Plant your rose and backfill the hole with a mixture of 50 percent native soil and 50 percent potting soil containing organic matter.
5. Water generously to saturate the soil evenly around its roots.
6. Add a 1 to 2-inch layer of mulch around the base of the rose.
   
7. Water generously to saturate the soil evenly.

How to Plant Roses in Containers

The two most important things to consider when planting roses in pots is the container and soil type. "Your pot should be decently large and deep and able to drain properly," says Callan.

1. Fill a pot with drainage holes about two-thirds full with a mix of potting soil and compost.
2. Remove the rose from its container and place it in the new pot. If planting a bare root rose, make a mound with the soil in the center of the pot and spread the roots over it.
3. Backfill with soil about 1 to 2 inches from the top of the pot. Press the soil down firmly to eliminate any air pockets.
4. Water generously to saturate the soil evenly.

Caring for Roses After Planting

As with all other plants, roses need specific conditions in order to thrive. Here are a few tips to help your roses not only bloom but stay healthy.

Keep Your Roses in a Sunny Spot

All roses should receive at least six to eight hours of sun every day, even if you planted yours in containers. This might mean relocating potted plants throughout the day so they receive enough natural light.

Water Generously

Roses are thirsty plants, requiring about 1 to 2 inches of water every week. “This may mean more frequent watering for container varieties, as containers tend to dry out more readily than ground soil does,” says Callan. 

Use the Right Fertilizer

Roses flourish with a high-phosphorus, slow-release fertilizer. “Some other good organic supplements are bone meal with phosphorus, fish emulsion with nitrogen, alfalfa meal, seaweed with nitrogen and phosphate, or coffee grounds with nitrogen,” says Callan.

For bare root roses, be careful when applying fertilizer too soon after planting. "I would recommend applying a small amount of mycorrhizae fungi at the base of the root structure to encourage root growth before applying fertilizer," she says.