Bare root roses require some special care between the time they are shipped and when they are planted Proper storage is crucial to ensure bare root roses stay healthy and viable until it’s time to put them in the ground Follow these key tips to successfully store bare root roses before planting day,
Check Roses Immediately Upon Arrival
As soon as bare root roses arrive, inspect the plants and packaging Look for any damage to the canes or roots Also check that the roots are still moist from the packaging materials.
If roots are dry, soak them in room temperature water for 1-2 hours before storage. If roots or canes show damage, trim any dead or broken areas with clean pruners.
Keep Roses Cool and Moist
Bare root roses must be kept dormant and moist until planting day. The ideal storage temperature is 35-45°F. Avoid freezing temperatures or overly warm conditions.
Here are some good options for keeping roses dormant and cool
- Unheated garage or shed
- Basement
- Refrigerator (remove produce first!)
- Cooler or floral walk-in fridge
Re-wrap roots in plastic bag they arrived in or wrap in damp newspaper or burlap. Check every 2-3 days and remoisten as needed. Don’t let roots dry out.
Temporary Storage Timeline
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1-7 days: Store wrapped roses in a cool location as described above.
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1-2 weeks: Consider “heeling in” roses or potting temporarily until permanent planting.
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Longer than 2 weeks: Not recommended unless “heeling in.” Plant ASAP.
The key is to plant bare roots as soon as possible before viability declines. But if needed, proper temporary storage can buy you some time.
“Heeling In” Bare Root Roses
Heeling in is a technique used to temporarily store bare root plants in soil until permanent planting. Here’s how:
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Dig a trench 1 foot deep and slightly angled. Loosened soil aids root growth.
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Lay roses in the trench at a 45° angle. Cover roots and lower canes with soil.
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Check soil moisture every few days. Add water if needed.
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Store for max 2-3 weeks before permanent planting to avoid damage.
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Carefully remove from trench and plant into final location.
Heeling in should only be used as a last resort if weather or circumstances prevent prompt planting. It’s best to get roses planted into their permanent spot as soon as possible.
Potting Temporarily
Another option is to temporarily pot bare root roses until ready for the garden:
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Use a 10-12 inch diameter pot with drainage holes
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Fill with well-draining potting mix, not garden soil
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Gently loosen and spread bare roots over soil and cover with 1-2 inches of mix
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Keep evenly moist, provide light if possible
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Transplant into garden within 2-3 weeks
This buys some time but get roses planted into final beds ASAP. Frequent potting and transplanting is stressful on plants.
What to Avoid
When storing bare root roses, be sure to avoid:
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Letting roots dry out – causes dieback
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Storing in a warm area – forces growth too soon
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Storing in freezing temperatures – damages dormant canes
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Storing for longer than 2-3 weeks – reduces viability
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Fertilizing or overwatering – stresses plants
Follow these tips to keep your bare root roses healthy in storage until it’s time to get them planted in the garden! Proper care between shipping and planting makes all the difference in your roses thriving.
PLANTING OUTSIDE OF RECOMMENDED DATES FOR YOUR GROWING ZONE
Bare roots roses are planted January through May depending on your growing zone. Use the chart below to help you plan when to order and plant bare roots in your garden.
Zones 9-13: late January – late February
Zone 8: mid – late February
Zone 7: early – mid March
Zone 6: mid – late March
Zones 3-5: early – mid April
If it is too warm or too cool to plant your rose it will not thrive. For example if you live in a warmer area like Zone 9 and you try and plant a bare root rose in April it will be too warm and the plant will have a more difficult time adjusting to the warmer temperatures breaking dormancy. It will experience more cane dieback and require more water frequently to get the roots established. We find roses planted this late for warm season customers usually do not survive after planting without extra TLC and attention. Likewise if you are a cooler area like a zone 6 and try and plant in February when you have snow on the ground and hard freeze weather, your rose will also not survive the cold temperatures experiencing dieback. Bare root roses like to be planted during your dormant season after your risk of hard freeze weather has ended. When you do your dormant pruning is the perfect time to plant your bare root roses. So take it from me and my many years of hearing sad customer stories, stick to the chart below to select a planting time and youll set yourself up for success! Not sure of your growing zone? Enter your zip code here!
This rose was watered by the customer only once a week after planting.
For at least one to two weeks after planting, water your new bare root roses every day with overhead water to keep the canes and roots moist while they get established. If it rains a lot where you live, you can skip this step. But if it doesn’t, you need to water your plants like Mother Nature does in the winter, especially if it’s a drought year. If you need to, you can keep watering your rose plant from above after two weeks, depending on how quickly it grows. You can stop watering the plants every day once the buds start to push and the first signs of leaf growth show. Instead, put them on a drip irrigation system or water them by hand at the base of the rose as needed. Rose plants like it when the soil around their roots is moist, but they don’t like it when water pools on the surface.
ALLOWING YOUR ROSE TO DRY OUT BEFORE PLANTING
Please DO NOT take your rose plant out of the bag, unwrap it, and leave it in the corner of your garage for two to three weeks to dry out! Trust me, we’ve heard of many customers doing this over the years. There’s no way you can expect a head of lettuce to still be fresh after two weeks if you leave it on the kitchen counter.
Your bare root rose needs to stay moist and cool in order to stay viable until planting. If you can’t plant the rose right away, put it back in the plastic bag and keep it somewhere dark, cool, and between 35 and 42 F degrees. Do not leave the bag open and let your rose dry out. Check on it every one to two days to make sure it stays moist and mold or cane decay doesn’t start to grow. If you need to keep your rose for a longer time before planting it, you could also “Heel In” it. Click here to see our step-by-step directions for heeling-in your rose plant.
It might not look like the rose is hurt right away, but a few weeks after planting, the canes will turn black and the rose will die. Put your rose somewhere cool, damp, and dark until you can plant it. Use the mist setting on your garden hose nozzle to do this.
The rose on the left is planted too high with the graft union over 6 inches above the soil line. The feeder roots of the plant are not completely covered and growing on top of the soil. The own root rose on the right is planted much too low with the base of the canes covered with thick mulch.
 How to Store Bare Root until Time to Plant
FAQ
How long can bare root roses stay in a box?
How do you store bare root plants until planting?
What to do after planting bare root roses?
How do you store bareroot Roses?
If you have to store the plants for more than ten days, your best bet is to completely unpack them and heel them in. Heeling in is a way to store bareroot roses by packing their roots in moist (not soggy) soil until planting time. Where and how you heel in your roses depends on how many roses you have and on the soil conditions outdoors.
How do you plant bare root Roses?
Take the bare root roses out of the packing material, place them in a bucket of water for 24 hours, and then plant them in your new rose bed.
How do you store roses?
If you have just a few roses, place them in a bucket or box and pack the roots and top third of the plant with moist sawdust, compost, peat moss, or soil. Store the whole thing in a cool (35° to 40°F or 1° to 4°C) place and check the packing often to make sure that it’s moist.
Do bareroot Roses need to be stored before planting?
You’ll probably have to store bareroot roses for some time before you can plant them, particularly if you purchase them through the mail. The key is to keep the plants cool so that they don’t start growing and the roots moist so that they don’t dry out. Inspect bareroot roses, as soon as they arrive or you get them home.