Question

Climbing roses help I Ordered some bare root climbing roses online and they’ve been delivered today. I’ve seen to soak the roots in water before I plant? How long for? And then what shall I do with them while the weathers been frosty/snowy recently?  

Answer 1

Yes you do soak them for a few hours before you plant them. Are the roots in a bag and are they quite dry at the moment?  

Comments

@article Yeahh they’re in a bag and look quite dry. I’m planning on putting them in a big pot in the garden because my soil isn’t great. (I know they don’t do as well but thought I’d give it a try) Would I plant them right away with this weather? Or could I plant them in it’s pot in the conservatory until weather picks up? Or do I just leave them in the bag?  

---

@ubiety oh yes. That will be perfect until the weather picks up. You need to soad them in a bucket for a while. I normally soak mine for 24 hours but you dont have to do it for that long. 12 would be enough. Before you plant them in a pot, you need to mix some blood, fish and bone into your compost. It contains all the nutrients your rose bush will need. Half fill the pot then place the rose in the middle and fill around the roots. Firm down the compost as you fill but be carefull of the root ball as it is fragile. Dont fill the pot to the top of the roots, leave a bit visible. Keep in a light cool place until the bad weather is over. But remember it will need more watering during the summer as pots tend to lose more moisture then if they are planted in the ground

---

@article could I just ask where on earth you would find blood, fish and bone please, never heard of this before  

---

@nijinsky its great for roses. Once they are in the ground the only other thing i feed them with is tomato feed during the summer. I will post a link for you

---

@article thank you very much x

---

@nijinsky you can buy this in most garden centres. You may be able to get it in asda or tescos aswell during garden season.  

---

@nijinsky pound land, garden centres, b&q: it's pretty much the organic version of growmore. With blood fish and bonemeal, the roots only take up what they want or need, and it sits in the soil harmlessly, until taken up.  

---

When is the best time to plant a climbing rose? I’m thinking of doing one this year too  

---

@augusto ideally after the frosts but if it is in a pot, it will need protecting

---

@article thank you

---

@andes thank you I never knew this

---

@nijinsky I scatter it on the soil, like talc, in March to boost the start of growth, and again in June or July but then only around plants that are still going strong and need another boost. Not on stems and leaves as it burns them. Wiggle it in with a handfork. Wear gloves.  

---

@nijinsky poundland x

---

@article great thanks I’ll hold off a few weeks then  

Answer 2

Don't leave them soaking if there's a chance the water could freeze.  

Comments

@offutt7 i normally leave mine standing in a bucket in the bath

Answer 3

Don't try to push the rose down into the pot. to force its roots flat so you can cover them with soil you will break them put some soil in your pot then in the middle of the pot build a road cone shape then sit your rose on top of it all its roots will be touching the soil cone like its gripping it then just hold it there till you put the rest of the soil into the pot firm the soil in well so you don't leave any air pockets when your filling it in if theres any dead or dieing roots on it when you take it out of the water prune them off b4 planting it

Answer 4

John Stoves I want but white

Answer 5

You can 'heel' your bare root roses in a sheltered spot until you have prepared your final planting sites - dig a trench, place the roots in and backfill. These roses will eventually stay in place for a long time so take time to really enrich the soil where they'll be going - dig holes as deep and wide as you can and backfill with plenty of well rotted manure mixed with the removed soil. If your soil is heavy clay, add some grit or sand to assist drainage. Plant your roses, tie them to a trellis, wires, arch or other supports (always leave a 3" gap between house walls and supports). Keep the stems of climbing roses as horizontal as possible as you tie them in - 'snake' them up the trellis, rather than tie them in vertically. Roses are 'gross feeders' and need feeding with a rose food in June, August and end Sept in the UK