Planting Bare Root & Transplanted Roses: Bone Meal, Root Hormone & Soil Prep

Transplanted a large rose (thick roots only) and ordered 4 bare roots from Jackson & Perkins? Here's the unified planting protocol.

For the Transplanted Rose

• Rooting hormone on cut thick roots — helpful
• Bone meal in backfill — critical (you forgot last time!)
• Don't overwater — thick roots need oxygen
• Mulch well — cool roots

For New Bare Roots

1. Your prep (peat moss, compost) is excellent
2. Add bone meal to each hole — 1 cup mixed in
3. Plant graft union 1-2" BELOW soil (Zone 7+)
4. Water in well, then moist not wet
5. Spray for black spot PREVENTIVELY — before symptoms
6. Follow fertilizer labels — roses are heavy feeders but hate excess

Universal Truth

Roots determine success. Invest in the hole, not the top. Your preparation puts you ahead of 90% of gardeners.