You ordered your bare root rose in late Winter or early Spring. Or maybe you caught an end of the season sale in late Spring or early Summer. You planted your new rose with exuberance, but now it looks like it is dying. What happened?!
If the nursery you purchased from is reputable and accommodating, they’ll likely share some info with you about caring for your new bare root rose. And yet, after planting, you still feel worried. Those new shoots are dying and the brown dieback is just spreading further down the cane.
Do not fear! Roses are tougher than you think. Your plant is likely still very much alive and ready to grow.
Bare root roses provide an affordable way to add beautiful roses to your garden But it can be disheartening when your eagerly awaited bare root roses fail to thrive after planting. If your bare root rose is not growing, don’t give up hope! With a little troubleshooting, you can get your rose back on track.
Common Reasons a Bare Root Rose Won’t Grow
There are several potential causes when a bare root rose does not grow properly. Here are the most frequent reasons and problems I see with bare root roses:
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Improper planting depth – Bare root rose graft unions need to remain 1-2 inches below the soil. If planted too deep or shallow, the rose can weaken and fail to grow well.
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Under or over watering – Getting the watering schedule right is crucial but tricky with newly planted bare roots. Too much moisture causes rot while too little stops growth.
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Extreme temperatures – Bare root roses need protection from hard frosts and extreme heat after planting. Unseasonable cold or hot temperatures will stress the plant.
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Transplant shock – Even when carefully planted, bare roots can experience shock that delays growth as the plant recovers
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Incorrect timing – Bare roots must be planted during dormancy in late winter/early spring before leafing out occurs.
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Poor soil conditions – Roses need well-draining yet nutrient-rich soil with a slightly acidic pH. Poor soils inhibit vigorous growth.
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Disease or pests – Problems like black spot, powdery mildew, or sucking insects can attack bare root roses and weaken or kill the plants.
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Underdeveloped roots – Some bare root roses may have weak, underdeveloped root systems that struggle to support plant growth above ground.
Tips to Get Bare Root Roses Growing
If your bare root rose is not thriving, try these troubleshooting tips:
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Carefully dig up the plant and inspect roots for signs of damage or rotting. Trim off any diseased, dead roots.
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Check that the graft union is planted at the proper 1-2 inch depth. Replant at correct depth if needed.
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Improve drainage by amending heavy clay soil with compost. Roses need well-aerated soil.
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Apply organic fertilizer according to soil test recommendations to nourish the plant.
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Water thoroughly to hydrate the root zone, then allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
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Prune away any dead, damaged canes or stems to improve air circulation.
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Monitor for pests like aphids and disease like black spot. Treat any issues immediately and be vigilant.
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Protect from weather extremes like frost and intense sun/heat which can further stress the plant.
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Transplant potted roses that are struggling into the ground or a larger pot to improve conditions.
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Allow ample time. Wait at least 8 weeks before giving up hope, as bare roots often recover slowly.
Be Patient and Persistent
Reviving stressed bare root roses takes diligence and attentive care. But the effort is worthwhile when a bare root finally thrives into the gorgeous rose bush you envisioned. Don’t let setbacks discourage you.
Analyze why a bare root failed and learn from it. Continually improving your planting techniques, soil, and growing conditions will lead to better results with each new bare root rose.
When issues arise, remain patient and persistent. With the proper troubleshooting and care, most bare root roses can be coaxed back to vigorous growth. But occasionally one may be too far gone, in which case replacing the plant is the best option.
Here are some final tips for success with bare root roses:
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Select healthy, high-grade bare root plants with robust cane and root growth
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Prepare soil well in advance by amending with compost and testing pH
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Time planting in your growing zone’s optimal spring window
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Carefully follow planting guidelines for depth and proper care
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Shelter potted bare roots from temperature extremes after planting
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Water thoroughly and deeply, without oversaturating the soil
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Fertilize per recommendations from your soil test
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Monitor closely and frequently for any signs of stress, disease or damage
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Be vigilant about preventing disease and pest problems through good cultural practices
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Prune judiciously to improve air circulation and shape the plant
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Transplant to a container if the bare root struggles extensively
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Allow adequate time for the bare root rose to settle in before giving up on it
Have you dealt with bare root roses that failed to grow well after planting? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below, as well as any tips you’ve learned for reviving struggling bare root roses. Let’s help each other become better bare root rose gardeners!
Plants are stressed when they are dug up and shipped to you.
It is absolutely amazing that we can rip a plant’s roots away from the soil and everything it knows, store them in a cooler for an indefinite amount of time, and then ship them across a country or overseas and they will still remain alive. Let’s take a second to acknowledge that feat of survivability and endurance.
When you order a plant from a nursery and have it shipped to you, understand this feat. No matter whether the plant is bare root or potted, shipping causes stress. Plants are exposed to variations in temperature, humidity, and light during shipping. And let’s not forget that even though the nursery slaps stickers and writing on the box like, “Keep this end up!” or “Fragile” that it is very likely that box was NOT handled in the way it was indicated. It’s just the nature of the beast that is shipping.
It is normal to see some dieback or lack of growth in the first few weeks after planting a bare root rose.
Nearly every time I have planted a bare root rose that already has buds that have “woken up” (i.e. the pale pinkish or fleshy colored initiation of leaf growth), the growth has shriveled up and died. It doesn’t matter how much I’ve watered or fertilized it. It doesn’t matter how quickly I planted it after receiving the rose.
Notice how the new pale shoots are starting to die from this newly planted rose. This looks scary! But the rose is still very much alive.
This happens all the time with seedling transplants as well. Often I will plant a zinnia, basil, or tomato plant and pull my hair out with anxiety as it stays exactly the same size for days. I wonder if it will ever grow. Sometimes it starts to look pale or yellow. I fret about starting new seeds.
But then, after several days or maybe a few weeks, something magical happens. The seedling seems to double over night in size.
That’s because the whole time I was looking at the aboveground growth, the plant was actually doing all of its work belowground. Once the root system was established, nutrient and water transport was able to ramp up. Some of the energy starts funneling up towards the shoots, and we see that energy manifest into more tissues–more stems, leaves, branches, and so on.
Bare root roses or perennials work in exactly the same way. Most of the time they are a little bit slower to recover than a small seedling (think about how big they are; it is going to take some time).
If your rose has experienced some brown or blackening of some of the canes, do not fear. The browning will either eventually stop at some point on the cane and the buds below that will begin to grow OR it may extend down the cane so far that buds will initiate from the crown or base of the plant.
The only time we worry about buds that initiate from the base of the plant is if you have a grafted or budded rose.
Sometimes all of the “shoot” buds of a rose will die off, causing the root system to throw up a stem. We call this a sucker. This sucker is NOT the same variety as the rose you purchased, so you can either let it grow for fun or dig the rose out and order a new one.
Make sure to let your nursery know if this happened within the first growing season. Many nurseries have a guarantee on their plants (it doesn’t hurt to ask about a refund, but don’t expect them to give you one; there are so many factors involved with plant survival that a nursery cannot guarantee everything).
Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing and Planting Bare Root Roses
FAQ
Why is my bare root rose not sprouting?
Sounds like over watering and too much feed. Bare root roses need time to establish. Other than perhaps bone meal they really shouldn’t be fed.May 12, 2025
How long does it take for a bare root rose bush to grow?
Usually, it takes 7-14 for the roots to take hold and start pushing new growth. You want to conserve the moisture in the canes during this time by placing a mulch essentially covering the newly planted rose.
How do I know if my bare root rose is alive?
When to become concerned that your bare root rose is dying: If all of the canes have turned black and the plant feels “loose” in the soil, your rose may be dead.
How do you wake up bare root roses?
Hydrate the Plant: Soak the bare root rose, roots only, in clean water for 24 to 48 hours upon arrival. This helps rehydrate the roots and prepare them for planting. Trim and Prep: Clip away any obviously dead or dried parts of the roots.