What to look for when buying Bare Root Roses

Roses are a truly wonderful addition to anyone’s garden, back yard or not. Though you may not be ready to plant them yet, in fact where we live we are still a couple of months from planting but it is the best time for planning. And if you are ordering you will need to order them soon so you have them when you want to plant.

Roses, if properly cared for, can last years. Therefore, do your research in order to be able to gain the most enjoyment from your plants. Spend some time checking out types, colors, shapes and sizes. Check through catalogues, the internet, and if possible go to a botanical garden arboretum this time of year. Maybe you’ve checked out a friend's gardens last summer but try to look at and smell the roses before you buy.

The first thing to look for is the plant's grade.

Nearly all bare root roses sold today are sold in three main grades and are approximately two years old. The Grades are 1, 1.5, and 2.

Grade 2 is the least expensive grade. These plants will have two canes 12 inches long and may be a bit of a gamble.

Grade 1 ½ is the most popular grade and its price is a little less. It should have at least two strong canes which must be at least 15 inches long and 1/8 inch in diameter.

Grade 1 is the best and as a result is the most expensive grade. It will have at least three strong canes, two of which must be at least 18 inches in length and 1/8 inch in diameter.

Where you buy your roses may also determine the quality. There are three main sources for buying roses.

Supermarkets are the least expensive but usually carry a limited variety of plants. They also normally come with their roots wrapped in plastic, therefore you are unable to inspect the roots for damage. The supermarket personnel are the least knowledgeable about what they are selling, and the plants can be treated roughly both by the people that stock them, and also by customers. This leads to a much greater potential for having an unsuccessful purchase.

Mail order suppliers are normally still pretty inexpensive and often have an even greater variety of plants than your local nursery, however you can not inspect the plants before buying and they sometimes arrive damaged due to shipping. Also, although most mail order suppliers are reputable this isn’t always the case and it is hard to discern the difference before you buy. It can also be difficult to return the ones you are unhappy with.

Nurseries are usually the best places to buy your plants. Normally they are a little more expensive but the plants are often kept in sawdust thereby allowing you to inspect the roots. They usually carry a large variety of both new and old varieties and usually provide the best advice as to which plants do best in your area.

So which variety of plant should you purchase? Well that depends on your taste and what is available for your climate. There are hundreds of varieties of roses. The older time proven varieties may not come in as many color variations but they are reliable. The newer varieties are wonderful and sometimes give larger blooms and a bigger show but my determining factor is the smell. I like to smell the roses. How about you?

Roses “by the yard”