Gardening: How to plant a bare root rose
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Bare root refers to plants that are in a dormant, or not actively growing state. They are supplied with no soil around their roots and usually bought online or by mail order. Bare root plants are generally cheaper than plants grown in containers and there is a wide variety to choose from. Planting them in the dormant season means they should establish well – despite the top growth potentially being brown and twiggy, the roots should be busy establishing beneath. As for when you plant a bare root plant, November to March is the ideal time.
Express.co.uk spoke to Kate Turner, Miracle Gro’s Gardening Guru about planting bare root plants and she shared her hints and tips.
“Winter is the best time of year to plant bare root plants such as roses and fruit bushes,” she explained.
“Bare root plants are lifted from the soil when they are dormant so they are cheaper to transport and less likely to be damaged.
“There is also a much wider choice of roses and bushes available in this way.
“It is important not to plant them if the soil is frozen or waterlogged and if there has been an early morning frost then wait till the afternoon to see if the soil is softer.”
How to plant a bare root plant:
1. Dig a hole before unwrapping the plant from whatever moisture retaining material they are in.
They should not be exposed to air or allowed to dry out.
The hole should be large enough to accommodate all the roots without bending or breaking any.
Ideally, you want to make a mound in the middle of the hole where you will place the bare root plant on top with the roots sloping down the sides later.
2. Fill a container with water and then gently unwrap the roots and place in the water to soak for an hour or two.
3. Before placing the bare root plant into the hole, trim off any dead roots – be careful not to trim the living roots.
4. Place the bare root plant in the hole and the crown should just be above soil level.
5. While holding the plant in place, fill the hole ensuring the roots are kept in place.
6. Water the plant well after planting and they should leaf out the first season.
7. For the first year, you can use a stake to hold the plant upright and in place.
If you want the bare root plant to flourish, Kate suggests adding mycorrhizal fungi to the roots to enable better nutrient uptake and after planting and watering in, mulch with a good layer of compost or Miracle-Gro® Peat Free Premium Fibre Smart™ Mulch to provide extra protection.
“Don’t forget to label the plant, as they will stay dormant till the spring and it’s all too easy to forget what you’ve planted,” Kate added.
Popular bare root plants:
Trees – apple, beech, bird cherry, poplar, weeping flowering cherry
Hedges – beech, hornbeam or ‘edible hedge’ made up of a mix of edible plants such as blackthorn, cherry plum and Rosa Rugosa.
Roses – Belle de Jour, 2021’s Rose of the Year
Perennials – agapanthus, hardy geraniums.
Fruit bushes and canes – raspberries and blackcurrants.
Fruit trees – apple, pear, plum, cherry and apricots.
Shrubs – willow, yew, Rosa rugosa and viburnum.
About Kate:
Kate Turner has had an extensive horticulture career, first learning the trade as a park gardener for Brighton & Hove City Council.
Since her first role, she has had much practical experience from her role as head gardener at Charterhouse School in Godalming, creating and running a community teaching garden called Flourish for eight years and obtaining her RHS Certificate in Horticulture Level 3.
Kate’s knowledge is often called upon by the media, with her career expanding to broadcast, bringing expertise to the likes of BBC’s Gardener’s World, BBC coverage of Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows, ITV’s Love Your Garden, BBC’s Garden Rescue and more.
Source: Read Full Article