I arrive at your garden in a dormant, bare-root state. My roots are exposed, and my canes appear dry and woody. This is not a sign of weakness but a natural survival strategy. I have been carefully harvested from the field while dormant, with my metabolic processes slowed to nearly a halt to conserve energy and withstand the shipping process. My packaging is designed to keep my roots moist and protected. Please do not be alarmed by my appearance; this is how I am meant to be planted. My life force is stored within my canes and roots, waiting for the right conditions to awaken.
My first and most critical need upon arrival is water. My root system has been out of soil and may have dehydrated during transit. To awaken me from dormancy, you must rehydrate me thoroughly. Please submerge my entire root system in a bucket of lukewarm water for 8 to 24 hours. This allows my roots to drink their fill and plump up, preparing them for the work of establishing themselves in the soil. Do not exceed 24 hours, as I also need oxygen. While I am soaking, you can prepare my new home.
I am a sun-loving plant and require a location with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for strong growth and abundant blooms. The soil must be well-draining; my roots cannot tolerate sitting in constant moisture, as this will lead to rot and fungal diseases. Please dig a hole that is wide enough to accommodate my root system without crowding—typically about 18 inches wide and deep. Mound a cone of soil in the center of the hole. This cone will provide a supportive structure for you to spread my roots over, ensuring they grow outward and downward, establishing a stable and healthy foundation.
Now, place me in the center of the hole, draping my roots evenly over the soil cone. My most important feature is the bud union—the knobby graft point where my ornamental rose top is joined to my hardy rootstock. In most US climates, this bud union should be positioned 1-2 inches below the soil surface. This protects me from winter freezes and helps stabilize my top growth. As you backfill the hole with the native soil amended with compost, gently firm the soil around my roots to eliminate large air pockets. Ensure I am standing upright and then water me deeply to settle the soil further and provide essential moisture to my root zone.
After planting, apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips or shredded bark, around my base. Keep the mulch a few inches away from my canes to prevent moisture buildup against them. This mulch is vital as it helps conserve soil moisture, suppresses weeds that would compete with me for nutrients, and regulates soil temperature. As the soil warms in spring, I will break dormancy. You will see new, red shoots emerging from my canes. Please be patient and withhold fertilizer until after I have produced my first set of leaves, as my energy is focused on root establishment.
