Plant your purchased roses immediately. If the weather delays planting, make sure the roots are kept damp at all times. Rewrap and store the plants in a cool, protected place until you can plant them. A refrigerator works well, but the temperature must not go below 32 degrees F. Do not allow the plants to freeze.

Soak the plants including roots and canes completely under water for 12-24 hours. This will help replace any moisture that was lost during cold storage.

Prune out all weak, broken or unneeded canes. Cut off any bud eyes that have elongated more than one-half inch during storage.

Prune the root tips back to white tissue to encourage and stimulate the growth of feeder roots.

Dig a hole for each plant. It should be wide and deep enough to accommodate the root system. A 20-inch hole will allow ample room so the roots aren't crowded. Consider amending about half of the hole's volume with a good planting mix.

If you are replacing an established rose in your garden with a new bush, remove all the soil and roots completely. Then, backfill the hole with a good planting mix.

After setting the plant, hold it level and work your soil mixture over and under the roots. Slowly fill the hole with water. This process will help eliminate any air pockets and stimulate growth of feeder roots and settle the soil. Finish backfilling the hole as necessary and water thoroughly again. The final position of the bud union should be at ground level for this area of the country. Although some gardeners will plant the bud eye below ground.

After the water has settled, hill up the soil around the plant.

Protect the canes of newly planted roses from dry air, drying wind, and extreme heat or cold. Prevent moisture loss by mounding loose, damp soil around the plant.

When new growth is about ½-inch long, remove one-half of the mound. When new growth is 1-inch long, remove the remainder of the mound. By uncovering gradually, you prevent drying and injury from late freezes and will allow root growth to establish before top growth begins.