How to Plant Roses

Planting them where they receive at least five to six hours of sunlight daily, providing the proper soil amendments and routine maintenance will result in a beautiful display.

If you're planting more than one rose, space them properly. Standard roses should be spaced three to four feet apart in warm climates and two to three feet apart in cold climates; miniature roses should be spaced one to two feet apart; and shrub roses need four to six feet. Here are some details on how to plant roses successfully.

Timing is Everything

In warm areas, where the temperature doesn't drop below 10 degrees, plant bareroot roses in January or February.

In colder climates, plant them in fall to give them time to establish strong roots. In extreme cold climates, wait until early spring, before the last frost date.

Start with the Basics

If you have a bare root rose, soak it in water for a few hours. If your rose is in a pot, water it the day before planting.

If you're replacing an existing rose, remove a circle of soil bigger than the new pot size, and replace it with new soil.

Remove any broken or damaged roots and cut off any broken canes on the rose.

Dig In

For bareroot roses, dig a hole fifteen to eighteen inches wide and deep, allowing room to spread the roots out.

For potted roses, make the hole slightly larger than the pot. Add compost or peat moss to the soil you removed, along with a handful of bonemeal.

Loosen the dirt in the hole and dig in some compost. Preparing the soil is a key point in how to plant roses properly.

Plant the Rose

Form a cone out of the soil in the hole and spread the roots over the cone.

Place the bud union, where the plant is grafted to its rootstock, level with the top of the soil in warm climates, and an inch or two below the soil surface in cold climates.

Build up the soil in the hole, if needed to reach the proper level.

Add soil back into the hole, being careful to avoid air pockets. Fill to a few inches below surface, then water thoroughly.

Allow the water to settle in, then fill the hole with soil. Lightly tamp down the soil surface.

Trim the Canes Back

Trim the rose canes back to eight inches, making a 45 degree cut, ¼ inch above an outward growing bud.

Now sit back and watch your roses flourish. Following just a few steps on how to plant roses will result in lush, beautiful flowers in your landscape that will grow for many years.

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