If you want to plant your potted roses into fresh ground for your garden or in a rose bed, there are a few considerations that you’ll need to know. You’ll need to understand that you just can’t do it any way you please. Roses are on a bush, and bushes are finicky and require a tender touch and maintenance. They are beautiful to behold and wonderful for olfactory, but transplanting them can be a little tricky if you’re not prepared. It doesn’t matter if you’re transplanting bare root, potted or already grounded roses, you will need to know what you’re doing before you do it! Remember to talk to an expert if you’re not sure how to transplant a potted or any other rose to your garden.

The most important factor when deciding to transplant your potted rosebush is to do it when there is no chance of frost at all. This could be as late as June in the year. Check your zones to calculate an approximate time for planting. A good check on your local weather station is a must too.

When transplanting a potted rosebush use the Boy Scout’s motto of being prepared, by gathering up everything you’ll need before you start. Here are a few must have items that are a necessity, but you might think of more that you’ll need, so be sure to get them out before you start.

Heavy Gloves

Long Handled Spade and Shovel

Trowel

Rake

Fertilizer

Disinfectant

Water

Plastic Bag

Next, you’ll need to prepare your hole in your garden. Don’t remove your potted plant, or relocate outside until this is done. Dramatic temperature changes will shock your rosebush. You don’t want a dead plant do you? Take these steps in digging your hole and planting your rosebush. Always check for fungus or bacterial disease before you plant.

Dig your hole large to accommodate for the root ball, and to allow for extra growth of the tiny roots that are long at the bottom.

Leave bottom of hole flat, and add a tiny bit of soil.

Water lightly, and disinfect the plant if needed. Be careful not to spray roots.

Prune leaf sets by cutting at a 45 degree angel by cutting back to the 3rd leaf set and clearing away any thin growth.

Use the spade to carefully loosen the potted rosebush from the container. Make a circle motion around the inside of the pot and plant.

Remove and carefully place in hole.

Add slow acting fertilizer and some bone meal to the bottom.

Cut sides away from pot and then scoot out the bottom where the drainage holes are, and dispose of the pot.

Spread out the roots gently and don’t compress them down into the soil, the water does that for you.

Continue to add water and soil gradually, and let drain completely between each addition. Leave 1 – 2 in. of soil on top. Cover with plastic bag, and water.

Now the long winter awaits your transplanted potted rosebush. It might seem like a lot of work to transplant them, and an even longer wait for the winter to pass, but think of the joy next year!

However, don’t get ahead of the ballgame.  If you do, you might just lose them. You’ll need to know what will be the appropriate time to uncover your potted roses. As the season approaches begin to examine your roses. Look for any unhealthy signs, and if you do spot some, check out a helpful rose book on the remedy you should take. If they’re healthy continue to wait until there is a nice day late in the evening, with no wind or rain. Uncover and cautiously remove debris and water carefully.

A word of rose advice about using potted plants that have been in the same container for more than 3 years – you might not have very good luck with transplanting them into your garden. Roses tend to get pot bound, and also if their container is not in good shape they will rot easily. So before you transplant make sure that you’ve kept the pot in good condition so it’ll be possible to move it. Enjoy your new roses – outside.

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