WHERE TO PLANT BARE ROOT ROSES
This week was a big one for us at Menagerie—we launched our very first early access sale for the 2025 Bare Root Rose Collection! It's something we've never done before, and I really wanted to find a way to say thank you to our amazing customers who come back year after year to shop with us. I hope you were able to snag something special for your garden, but if not, don't worry! Our full collection of bare root roses will be available when it officially launches in January 2025.
Are you feeling inspired and ready to dive deeper into your bare root rose planning journey? I know I am! Last week, we explored the best time to plant bare root roses and shared tips for marking your calendar with the ideal planting date. (Missed it? You can catch up here.) This week, we're shifting focus to another crucial step: selecting the perfect location for your bare root roses. The right spot can make all the difference in helping your roses flourish, so it's worth taking the time to plan carefully. Let's get started!
First and foremost, roses love the sun! Look for a location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. While some varieties can tolerate partial shade, they generally produce fewer blooms and lower petal counts in less light. If you want your roses to perform at their best, sunlight is essential.
Next, let's talk about soil. The journey to thriving roses begins with a soil test to understand its composition and determine what amendments might be needed so you can amend before planting. I highly recommend using the Soil Kit, it's my favorite at home kit which makes the process simple and efficient. You can find it on our website, Amazon, or ask for it at your local nursery. Once you collect and mail your sample, you'll receive detailed results with personalized recommendations for the best fertilizers and soil amendments to help your roses flourish. Trust me when I say it's the best $30 bucks you'll spend on your garden this year! Alternatively, your local country agricultural extension or university office also may offer soil testing as well for free or a nominal fee.
Equally important is ensuring your soil drains well. Good drainage prevents root rot and keeps your roses healthy. If you're planting in-ground, consider amending your soil with compost or organic matter to improve its structure if you have poorly drained or rocky soil. E.B. Stone Organic Compost or Greenall Mulch are my preferred amendments. Your local independent nursery should be able to point you to a similar product that they carry.
Proper spacing is essential for cultivating healthy, thriving roses too. As a general guideline, I recommend planting roses about three feet apart to ensure good airflow and robust growth. However, this spacing can vary depending on the variety, your climate, and your gardening objectives. For a fuller, more clustered appearance, smaller rose varieties can be planted closer together, around two feet apart. If you're growing roses in a cut flower garden, be sure to leave enough space to comfortably access the blooms for harvesting.
When planning your garden, consider its visual appeal. I personally love the dramatic effect of planting roses in clusters of three or five, creating a stunning, eye-catching display. If you're incorporating climbing roses, make sure to provide a supportive structure like an arch, trellis, or fence for them to elegantly grow upon. For flower farmers focused on efficient harvesting, row spacing is he most practical approach. I prefer planting three roses per bed, using a three-foot liner spacing and a two-foot offset planting grid to maximize both space and accessibility.
If garden space is limited or you're not ready to commit to a permanent spot, consider planting your roses in pots. Choose containers at least two feet wide and three feet deep to give your roses plenty of room to grow. Make sure the pots have proper drainage holes, and if not, you can add them yourself. To prevent water from pooling, elevate the pot on a wooden block or use a saucer underneath. In warm climates, avoid dark-colored pots as they can retain heat and scorch your roses during summer. For container planting, aim for a mix of 75% high-quality topsoil or raised bed soil and 25% organic compost. My go-to products for potting are E.B. Stone Raised Bed & Potting Mix and E.B. Stone Organic Compost.
This week's action tip: Take a stroll around your space and start envisioning where each variety might thrive. Look for sunny spots with good drainage, order a soil test and plan your layout. To make the process even easier, I've created a Notion template where you can organize your bare root rose wishlist and map out their future locations. Access the Notion Template here.
THE LIST: THINGS I'M LOVING THIS WEEK
- We just upgraded our record player and moved it from my office to our family room. My kids are loving listening to my mom and grandparents' old collection of Christmas albums. It would make a great family Christmas GIFT if you have old albums sitting in storage you wished you were listening to. This album has been on repeat.
- It's holiday COOKIE making season and I'm still using my mom's worn and tattered copy from the 70ies. It's the best Cooky Book!
- This made me LAUGH because we have the same collection fighting for their lives on the tree. I have a graveyard of googly eyes.
- It is bare root rose mania around here and between my busy work season and the holiday season colliding I need the simplest easiest meals to get on the table. This slow cooker dump and go is cozy, EASY and fills the bellies of a hungry crew.
- Dreaming about your perfect garden for 2025? Even though I run a business that sells plants and flowers, I still get so excited about planning upgrades to our family garden and landscaping. To keep all my scribbled notes ORGANIZED, I use Notion—it's been a game changer! If you missed it in last week's newsletter, you can grab my free bare root rose planner templates for Notion and start planning your dream garden too.
HAPPY PLANTING, ROSE FRIENDS,
JOIN THE FUN!
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You can also find me on Instagram for more rose garden inspiration and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments. You can check out my favorite rose varieties and browse garden supplies at the Menagerie Shop! I also have all of things I love for my home, garden and life in easy to find collections on my Amazon Storefront and my new ShopMy Page.
Photos by: Jill Carmel Photography
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