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Bare Rooted Roses

Novice23Novice23 Posts: 182
in Plants
Planning on buying a couple of bare rooted roses.  I know they need to be planted when they arrive, but wondered if I can plant them in pots rather than the soil.  I need to dig over the bed where I plan to plant them, so may not be ready for when they arrive.  Any advice please?
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  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,322
    You could leave them in a bucket of water for a couple of days if it gives you enough time to dig, otherwise nothing wrong with potting them. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 268
    Yes you can pot them up or you can did the ground a bit lay the roots on their sides and cover them with soil to heel them. They can stay like this for a few days till you  get their place in the border. As Aman says leave them in a bucket of water for a few hrs before potting or heeling them. 
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    I recieved my bare root roses today......label said they will be fine still in packaging for 3 weeks
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,322
    How long do you need to dig over the bed? 1 week or less - just keep the roots moist and they will be fine. 2-3 weeks - heel them. More - pot them. In any case, don't allow the roots to dry out.
  • Novice23Novice23 Posts: 182
    Thanks so much everyone.  If the weather is OK I can probably get most of the bed dug over in a week, if we have more torrential rain it might be the bucket, or heeling in.  I know this is probably a daft question but how is heeling in different from planting, they are still in the ground.  So is it that they are not left in the ground for long.  Sorry if that sounds stupid. 

    Thanks for all the advice
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,236
    Heeling in just means temporarily 'planting' them somewhere to give you time to prepare the final planting area; you don't need to 'plant' them properly or firm them in, as you'll be moving them soon anyway. It can be done anywhere you have a spare bit of soil.
  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 268
    Yes as willDB says. Dig a shallow trench lay the plant sideways and mound the soil around roots to keep it moist. Takes only a few minutes. If you are putting this in a bucket keep it out of rains way. In the past I’ve done this and when it rains the water fills up quickly creating further hassle. 
  • Novice23Novice23 Posts: 182
    Again thanks everyone.  Bed now dug over, ready to receive roses.  Also moved a largish Physocarpus Diabolo to make more room.  Hope the weather is kind when they arrive.Quite excited now.  

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,322
    Well done @Novice23 oh just wait for the excitement of Spring 2020 ;) 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • Novice23Novice23 Posts: 182
    Thanks @amancalledgeorge.   First time with bare rooted anything, so thanks everyone for your advice
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