How To Plant A Bare Root Shrub Rose - David Austin Roses

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Planting Bare Root Shrub Roses in the Ground: Step-by-Step

Bare root shrub roses are a gardener’s delight, offering a traditional, sustainable, and rewarding way to add colour and fragrance to your garden. Delivered simply as stems and roots, they are designed to work in harmony with the seasons. Planted in autumn through to spring, they settle naturally into the soil over the colder months, ready to burst into life and reward you with blooms the following year. Easy to handle, they are a dependable choice for both new and experienced gardeners.

The Best Time to Plant

The ideal moment is during dormancy, from late autumn to early spring. Planting at this time allows the roots to establish steadily and safely while the rose rests through winter, giving it a strong foundation for vigorous growth when spring arrives.

Here’s What You’ll Need

Your Chosen Rose

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Spade

Fork

Gardening Gloves

Watering Can

Soil Improver or Well Rotted Manure

Large Bucket of Water

Choosing the Perfect Spot

Roses thrive in sunlight, so choose a location with at least four hours of direct sun each day. In hotter regions, a little afternoon shade can help protect young plants. Give your rose enough space so its roots are not crowded by neighbouring plants, trees, or hedges.

Preparing the Roots

Before planting, soak the roots in a bucket of water for a couple of hours to rehydrate them. If planting is delayed, keep the roses in their packaging in a cool, dry place, protected from frost, for up to three weeks.

Planting in the Ground

Step 1 Prepare the soil: Dig the area thoroughly with a garden fork, removing weeds and large stones to let roots grow freely.
Step 2 Dig the hole: Make a hole roughly 45 x 45 cm, slightly wider and deeper than the roots. Break up the soil at the base and mix in a spadeful of well-rotted manure or organic soil improver. Add two spadefuls of the same soil to the soil removed from the hole.
Step 3 Position the rose: Place the rose in the centre of the hole, spreading the roots evenly. Ensure the bud union sits 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) below the soil surface.
Step 4 Backfill and water: Fill the hole with the prepared soil, lightly firm it around the roots, and water generously to settle the soil.

Aftercare

Once planted, you can largely leave your rose to rest through the winter, confident that it is establishing strong roots. Keep the soil evenly moist if conditions are dry, and then in spring, enjoy a stunning display of new shoots and flowers. Planting bare root shrub roses in this way is a sustainable, traditional method that lets you work with nature’s rhythm: plant in autumn, let the season do its work, and be rewarded with blooms the following year.

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Dannahue™ English Shrub Rose €23,95 - €33,00 Fragrance strength Fragrance strength
Penelope Lively™ English Shrub Rose €23,95 - €33,00 Fragrance strength Fragrance strength
Emma Bridgewater™ English Shrub Rose €23,95 - €36,50 Fragrance strength Fragrance strength
Bring Me Sunshine English Shrub Rose €23,95 - €33,00 Fragrance strength Fragrance strength
Elizabeth™ English Shrub Rose €23,95 - €33,00 Fragrance strength Fragrance strength
Eustacia Vye (syn. Sts. Francis and Claire) English Shrub Rose €23,95 - €33,00 Fragrance strength Fragrance strength
Gabriel Oak English Shrub Rose €23,95 - €33,00 Fragrance strength Fragrance strength
Nye Bevan™ English Shrub Rose €23,95 Fragrance strength Fragrance strength

Additional Planting GuidanceRead more

Planting Bare Root Roses: Step-by-Step for Garden and Pots Bare root roses arrive simply, as stems and roots, quietly waiting for the garden to bring them to life. With care, they can transform into lush, flowering plants, filling a garden with colour, fragrance, and presence. Affordable, easy to handle, and a traditional favourite among gardeners, they offer both charm and reward.
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