Bare root rose planting season is almost upon us. Here are some tips to get ahead if the weather turns

Having survived a weekend of Storm Bert battering the British Isles we're forecast a spell of dry'ish weather for the next few days.

If you're looking to plant some bare root roses over the coming months you can try and get ahead on the gardening jobs, just in case the weather turns unpleasant again.

Here's how to get started:

1. Prepare Early: It's best to prepare your ground at least a month before your bare root roses arrive or a month before you intend to plant them. But if you’re short on time, you can use Rootgrow products like mycorrhizal fungi on planting day. We use mycorrhizal fungi when planting our roses here at the farm and we find it really does help with the strength of the plants come growing season and the warmer weather.

   

   
   

2. Weed and Dig, Weed and Dig: Remove weeds in a 50cm radius around the planting spot. Then, double dig the soil: temporarily remove the top layer (about a spade's depth) and fork over the bottom layer, mixing in some fertiliser or organic material. If it's not possible for you to double dig then make sure the soil is nicely turned over and isn't 'clumpy' or filled with rocks. Nice loose soil gives the roots on your rose plants a better chance of spreading and growing as they should. For roses, phosphorus-rich feeds like bonemeal work wonders. If you have chalky or poor soil, add organic matter like leaf mould, composted pine needles, or well-rotted manure to balance the pH. Finish by backfilling the top layer. Roses do best with slightly acidic soils.

   If in doubt, you can buy compost that is specifically for growing roses. Most garden centres and DIY stores such as B&Q sell it or if you're not able to get 'out and about' you can order it from online stores. These days even Amazon will deliver compost straight to your door!

   
   

3. Pots Matter: If you're planting in a pot, size is key. Roses need deep roots, so a pot that's at least 40-45cm deep and 40cm wide is ideal for shrub roses. Avoid planting very rampant climbers or ramblers in pots; they need a larger container, about 1m x 1m, for those growing under 10ft (3m) tall. Use a soil-based compost mix (50% John Innes No. 3 and 50% multipurpose) to help retain nutrients. Adding a 2cm layer of gravel or crocks at the bottom aids drainage. So for pot planting think 'bigger is better.'

   
   

4. Patience Pays Off: The longer your roses have to develop their roots during their dormant months, the better they'll perform next summer.

We hope you have a happy and productive bare root season. Don't forget you can always drop us an email if you have any questions about planting roses.

Happy planting!