How to Grow Roses: A Comprehensive Guide

Rose bushes will provide stunning colour, fragrance and texture in just about any garden setting. And unlike old roses, today’s modern roses require surprisingly little care. By following just a few basic care tips, your rose will thrive beautifully for years.

In an effort to ensure your rose growing success, our roses have been professionally pre-pruned. Both the tops and roots have been pruned to help reduce transplant shock and to ensure healthy, vigorous top growth.

Steps on How to Plant Roses

To plant right away, remove roses from shipping container and soak the roots in a pail of water for at least an hour (but no more than 12 hours) just before planting. Select a location in full sun (at least 6 hours per day) well-drained soil.

If planting must be delayed, open the plastic bag your roses are in and cover the roots with damp newspaper to keep them moist. Partially close the plastic bag, and store in a cool, sheltered area away from sun and wind. Keep the newspaper/roots moist until you are ready to plant.

Tip: Never leave bareroot plants exposed to sun and wind. They must be kept moist and cool at all times prior to planting.

Although your roses can be planted at any time, best results are achieved when they are planted on a cloudy, calm day.

• Dig a hole 12-18 inches deep, ensuring that it's wide enough that all of the roots can be spread out without touching the sides of the hole.
• To ensure optimal growth for your roses, amend the soil to achieve slight acidity. If the soil is clay-based and alkaline, add sulfur or aluminum sulfate. Improve nutrient content and drainage by incorporating leaf mold, peat moss, manure, or compost, as roses thrive in well-drained soil.
• Unwrap your bare root roses, and trim off any broken roots.
• Mound a cone of soil in the center of the hole, then spread healthy roots around the soil mound with bud union (the knot at the base of the plant) at ground level for mild climates, or two to three inches below ground level for cold climates.
• Fill the hole half full, and then water the roses well to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
• Let the water drain, then fill the remainder of the hole with soil mixture. Water thoroughly again.
• Mound loose soil up and around the canes to protect the plant from sudden temperature changes.
• Gently wash away soil to ground level when rose is well-sprouted.

Where to Plant Roses

In order to plant roses, you'll need a little elbow grease and a great location. Most roses prefer at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day, especially morning sun. Adequate sunlight keeps roses from becoming leggy, and keeps them blooming. Shrub roses and climbing roses can typically tolerate a bit more shade. Choose a planting location that will accommodate your roses' need for light, and fit their potential growth—both height-wise and width-wise. You also need to choose a location that drains well: overly wet conditions can cause mildew and fungus for your roses.

When is the Best Time to Plant Roses

The best time to plant a rose bush is in the spring. Roses will get their best start in your garden if you plant them in the spring, after the last frost. Planting early in the year gives your roses' roots enough time to settle in before the plant goes dormant over the winter. Bonus points if you plant your roses on a calm, cloudy day—planting in the rain is no fun and can make setting the rose difficult. If you buy your roses from Breck's, we will ship them to you when they should be planted!

How to Take Care of Roses

Thanks to innovative hybridization practices, rose care has never been easier. These plants are bred to grow into healthy, proliferous roses! By following and practicing our rose care tips and tricks and a little continuing care, you should be able to enjoy your hybrid rose plants for years.

Watering Roses

When it comes to rose plant care, roses require frequent watering. If your area isn't getting frequent rain, water your roses deeply twice per week. Water them early in the day. By watering in the morning, you're giving your roses several hours to dry out before nighttime dew sets in: continuous damp conditions can lead to mildew on your rose leaves and petals.

Fertilizing (Feeding) Rose Plants

Can you use the same fertilizer for roses and other plants? Most likely! Roses benefit from a balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 fertilizer. However, you should dilute the fertilizer to half the strength prescribed on the packaging. Some pre-diluted fertilizers are available, but you can have plenty of success using the diluted version of your favorite flower fertilizer.

Protecting Your Roses From Pests or Disease

Modern roses are much more disease resistant than their heirloom relatives. However, they are susceptible to certain types of fungus and pests. If your roses develop "blackspot" or a powdery appearance, use a commercial fungicide on the leaves. Aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites are all common rose garden pests. If you find holes in leaves, or webs amongst your canes, use a strong stream of water to blast away bugs, and follow up with an insecticidal soap.

How to Prune or Trim Roses

Modern roses should be pruned early in the spring, when about half of the growth buds swell. Because most roses bloom on both "old wood" and new growth, you shouldn't cut your roses entirely down. Instead, cut back about one-third to one-half of the previous year's growth. Remove any damaged wood, or canes that rub together. Trim any suckers from the base of your plant.

How to Care for Roses in Winter

If you live in a zone colder than Zone 5, protect your roses from winter cold. After the first "killing frost" of autumn, mound loose soil about eight inches high over the base of your rose plant. Then, pile hay or straw over the remaining exposed canes. Clear the material away after the last frost of the year.

When Do Roses Bloom?

Roses bloom throughout the season from mid-spring to fall. Because of their lengthy bloom time, roses are among the most popular and desirable plants to grow.

How Long Do Rose Flowers Last?

When learning how to grow roses, it's important to consider how long do flowers last. Roses bloom from mid-spring to fall, providing a long-lasting display. Proper care ensures their blooms remain vibrant throughout the season.

Roses can also thrive in containers. Ensure good drainage, and water regularly. During winter, move containers to a sheltered area and maintain slight moisture. With these tips, you'll master how to grow roses and enjoy their beauty for years.

How to Grow Roses in Containers

Most roses will thrive and bloom in containers as well as in the garden. Good drainage is essential. Make sure the container has drainage holes, and add gravel or some coarse material at the bottom of the pot to further promote proper drainage.

The soil level should be about 2 inches below the rim of the pot, to make watering easier. Water thoroughly to settle the soil. A good watering twice a week is usually sufficient, but check the soil to make sure it stays moist. Fertilize twice a month after the plants have leafed out.

Winter protection is very important, especially where temperatures dip below 29°F. Move your containers to an unheated garage or cellar. Withhold fertilizer, and water just enough to keep the soil slightly moist. When danger of frost has passed in the spring, bring the container outside, water thoroughly and prune your roses.

Types of Modern Roses

While roses were once thought of as the high-maintenance divas of the garden, advances in breeding and growing have changed that. Today's roses need relatively little care. We offer rose bush varieties of grandiflora roses, floribunda roses, hybrid tea roses, shrub roses and climbing roses.

Grandiflora Roses

Grandiflora roses are a mix between classic hybrid tea roses and more modern Floribunda roses. These roses feature huge, brightly-hued flowers on prickly stems, as well as dark, glossy leaves. Grandifloras are tall—they can grow to a height of nearly five feet—so they work well in the back of the garden. Their long stems make Grandifloras incredible cutting roses! Grandifloras bloom repeatedly throughout the season, and bloom on both old and new wood.

Floribunda Roses

Floribunda roses were first introduced by a Danish breeder in 1907. Floribundas are a cross between hybrid tea roses and polyantha, and bring you the best of both worlds: amazing colours and prolific blooms. Floribundas have small, pointed flowers like hybrid teas, but they bloom in multi-flowered sprays, creating a bigger burst of blossoms. If you live in a zone colder than zone 5, your climate may be too cold for some types of roses. Floribunda roses tend to be more cold-hardy, and may be a good choice for northern gardeners.

Hybrid Tea Roses

Hybrid teas are the foundation of the modern rose garden! This wide category of flowers were hybridized throughout the late 1800s and popularized due to their perpetual blooming habit. Hybrid tea roses grow pointed, single-petaled flowers that unfurl into classic spiraled blooms. Hybrid tea roses are smaller than Floribundas or Grandifloras, and tend to be the most fragrant variety of roses.

Shrub Roses

Are shrub roses "real roses?" You bet. While they aren't as showy as long-stemmed roses, shrub roses offer thick foliage and privacy along with bouquet-worthy blooms. These prolific bloomers offer a full spring and summer of flowers—and shrubbery, too.

Climbing Roses

What's more picturesque than climbing roses? Roses that twine their way up an arbor, trellis, wall or pergola make for a scenic backdrop and a unique landscape. Just like upright roses, climbing roses have been bred for disease resistance and ongoing flowering.

No matter what rose bush you choose, Breck's promises to bring you healthy rose plants—and get your rose garden off to a great start!

Planting Video for Bareroot Roses

Download the Rose Care Guide