The perfect way to plant bare-root roses

1

If you can’t plant a bare-root rose immediately, keep it wrapped up in a cold, dark place and keep the roots damp until you're ready to plant.

2

Dig a hole roughly one and a half times the depth and width of the rootball. Break up the soil at the base of the hole with a digging fork.

3

Put the dug out soil into a wheelbarrow, then add well-ro ed compost, well-ro ed manure or composted bark to it. Mix well with a spade.

4

Place the rose in the hole so the bulky part where the roots join the stems is at least 5cm (2in) below soil level. Fill in the hole with the mixed soil.

5 Firm the soil well with the ball of your foot as you go until the hole is filled. Check the bulky part of the rose is buried, then soak the soil at the base of the rose well.

6 Always be sure to write down the name of your new rose in a notebook or keep the label. It's so easy to forget what you’ve got!