Roses in Alaska: Planting Bare-Root Roses

One of the most amazing things about roses is how they rest in the winter. They slow down their growth, drop their leaves, and take it easy for a few months.

The process allows growers to dig roses up and ship them around the country without soil around their roots. 

Chances are, if you decide to plant roses in Alaska, you'll be putting such a "bare-root" rose into a pot or garden.

As long as the roots are kept moist, bareroot roses remain viable and healthy. The most important roots at this stage are the fine, white roots.

They are the ones that will nourish the rose with water. Be especially careful that they don't dry out.

The best protection for bare-root roses is to get them into soil. Because water is so crucial to the survival of the rose, you should take precautions when you get them home.

Most growers recommend soaking the roots before planting, anywhere from a few hours to an entire day. Simply fill up a bucket and plunge the bare-root rose in, making sure all the roots are covered.

Some growers throw a trowel of garden soil into the soaking water. Soil that settles on roots keeps them from drying out during the planting process.

Roses are grown commercially two ways: grafted onto a different rootstock, which is usually not hardy in Alaska, or grown on the rose’s own roots. The Alaska Rose Society recommends buying roses grown on their own roots. They're usually hardier, and if a freeze kills the above-ground portion of the rose, the surviving below-ground portion will give you back the rose you originally planted.

You can tell a grafted rose by the bulbous knot just above the roots. That's called the bud union. Most grafted roses are not hardy.

The rose itself may be labeled hardy, but the root stock may not be.

When you plant a grafted hardy rose in the ground, the bud union from the graft should be planted 4 to 6 inches below ground level for protection from freezing.

Own-root roses have a better survival rate and should be planted so the point where the roots join the branches is just below the soil surface. 

After digging a hole, build up a cone of soil in the middle. Place the roots over the cone and spread them out. Then start adding soil to cover them up.

When the hole is half full, soak it. Not only will the roots appreciate the drink, but also the water will help settle the soil. A newly planted rose could die if there's an air pocket around the roots.

Finally, completely fill in the hole, carefully tamping the soil and then water it again.

The plant may settle during the next several waterings. If it sinks too low, or stands too high, it's best to dig it out carefully and start over.

Hardy roses purchased in containers are easier to plant. They are usually smaller than grafted roses and will have one main stem. 

Soak the rose thoroughly, then carefully remove it from the pot and slide it into the hole at the correct depth before tamping in soil around it. 

Grafted non-hardy roses purchased in pots most likely should stay in the pot for best results.

© 2002, Alaska Rose Society, All Rights Reserved.
This article was originally published in the Anchorage Daily News, June 21, 2002.

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Last modified: July 13, 2003