How roses arrive will depend on whether you have ordered bare-root or potted roses. Bareroot roses will be sent out in bags as they are sent out as they are out of the field. They are quite literally ‘bare’ as they have no soil around the roots and are lifted from the field between October and December, ready for dispatch between November and March in this time, the rose is dormant until its planted and the roots begin to stabilise. Potted roses are placed in 4-5 litre pots and are available all year round, and we tend to pot these from January into March. The root will likely still be growing into the pot when it is received, and you can expect new growth in the spring and the beginning of foliage and buds as we approach the summer months before the rose's blooms from around June. All our roses are delivered securely by courier.

You can plant roses all year round, but we recommend avoiding times of extreme weather conditions (frosts, extreme rain, drought). If you cannot plant your bare root rose as soon as you receive it, that is fine; however, they need to be stored in a dry, cool place like a garage or shed, and the roots need to be watered. If you cannot plant the roses within a couple of weeks, we suggest heeling them in, in which case you will need to dig a hole for the roots to go into and cover the roots over with soil. The roses will still need to be watered if it is dry. When it comes to planting the rose, the earlier you can plant the rose, the better. You will need to wet the roots before the rose is planted and then dig a hole and add compost to create a compost and soil mix, as this will help hold the moisture for the roots. Place the rose in the midst of the mix and cover it over and ensure the hole is completely filled. The rose will then need to be watered daily for the first 2-3 weeks to stabilise the roots. All roses also come with a rose care guide for extra guidance.

Bare root roses are dormant plants; throughout winter, the plants are effectively sleeping, making it possible for the rose to be almost entirely cut back. Bare root roses are supplied without any soil or flowers and little foliage. They are lifted from the field, cut back, and pruned before being sent out. November to March is the peak time to purchase a rose in this way, as it allows the roots to stabilise before the roses bloom in the summer months. If you purchase roses in a container during the winter months, it will be similar to the bare root rose in a sense there will be little foliage. The first blooms will still be at the start of the summer season, with noticeable growth to the foliage and buds in the spring. Watering is essential for potted plants; we recommend removing the plant from the pot and planting it into the ground with the compost it comes with, and the rose will begin to grow within a few weeks and start to flower in the late spring to early summer. Alternatively, you can keep the rose in the original pot for a couple of months, and the root will begin to grow with the container before being planted, but you must water the pot.

We recommend leaving around 20 to 30 inches between each rose. Depending on the variety, larger roses need more room for the roses to grow, and smaller varieties, like the patios, should have plenty of space with 20 inches.

Ideally, we wouldn’t recommend planting a rose where one previously was. However, if this is the case, replacing the soil is best to get the best results from the rose.