To give your container roses the best start in your garden, start by picking the best container roses. When you’re at the garden center, gather together a group of several plants of the same variety for comparison and selection. Examine the foliage, noting any diseased, broken or crushed canes, as well as discolored or brown leaves. Narrow your choice down to the plants with healthy green leaflets and numerous foliage buds. It’s best to avoid plants that already have blooms or have flower buds that are ready to open. Select roses without buds or those with flowers that have already faded to avoid extra stress following transplanting.
When you’re at the nursery, gather together a group of several roses of the same variety for comparison and selection.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Check the plant’s roots, looking for signs of drought or circling roots.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Examine the bud union on all grafted plants. It should be healthy and free of dead wood or evidence of corky growth from fungal disease.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Next, invert the containers to check the root systems. Carefully supporting the rose with your open palm, tip the container upside down and tap the bottom to slide out the root ball. Look for signs that the plant is root-bound, has encircling roots or has suffered drought. Avoid any plants with such problems.
Sometimes, checking the root ball also reveals that the retailer or their grower has recently repotted the rose from a smaller container. If that’s the case, avoid the extra expense of buying a “large” container plant and buy a plant in a smaller pot.
After inspecting the roots, slide the plant back into its pot and take a look at the soil. Put aside any plants that have numerous suckers (green foliage shoots) growing from the rootstock. Finally, examine the bud union on all grafted plants. It should be healthy and free of dead wood or evidence of corky growth due to fungal disease.
Once you’ve picked the best roses, buy them, bring them home and get ready to plant! Sink them in the ground in spring for best results and vigorous growth. Follow this guide for how deep (or shallow) to plant the bud union to protect it, depending on where you live:
Depth & Time of Planting Roses
| USDA Hardiness | Bud Union Planting Depth | Time of Planting |
| 2-3 |
3 inches below soil level |
April |
| 4-5 |
2 inches below soil level |
March-April |
| 6-7 |
Level with soil |
March |
| 8-9 |
2 inches above soil level |
February-March |
| 10-11 |
2 inches above soil level |
February |
To transplant roses from their nursery containers into your garden, take the steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions. Be sure to water well, and your handpicked roses will thank you with each and every bloom.
Planting Containerized Roses
Planting Containerized Roses - Step 1
Prepare a hole twice as wide as the nursery container and 1/3 greater in depth, leaving a 4-6 inch mound in the bottom center.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planting Containerized Roses - Step 2
Enrich the native soil taken from the hole by adding 25 percent well-rotted steer manure to it and mixing the two together thoroughly.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planting Containerized Roses - Step 3
Carefully invert the plant in its nursery container, supporting it with your open palm, fingers around its stem. Gently tap the bottom of the container until the root ball slides out.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planting Containerized Roses - Step 4
Use a hand fork to score the root ball and loosen the surface roots. Cut or unwind any encircling roots.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planting Containerized Roses - Step 5
Position the plant and check the hole’s depth according to the Depth & Time chart presented in this article. Add or remove amended soil as needed.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planting Containerized Roses - Step 6
After completely filling the hole, firm soil around the plant. Apply 3 gallons of water after planting and daily thereafter for the first 10 days.
Photo Credit: ©2001 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
