
What is Bare Root?
Bare root means that a plant has been dug up from growing in the ground and has not been container grown. Roots are left bare but protected, and upon arrival to our nursery the plants are placed in a mulch mix to keep the roots covered. A bare root plant is in its dormant state, thus only available in winter.
Buying and planting bare root means:
- Great low pricing compared to container stock.
- No heavy pot to lift – Easy handling.
- Plants won’t be root bound.
- Plants will not have experienced heat stress like many container plants are subject to.
- The soil is soft to dig into during winter.
- Planting in winter will give new plantings time to get well established before summer.
Choosing a Variety – You Got Options!
If you’re a new gardener, choosing a rose with high disease resistance means greater chance of success and better chances of enjoying your roses with less maintenance. Some varieties have higher tolerance than others to issues like mildew, rust and black spot, so choose a variety that fits your growing goals.
There is a range of growth habits and qualities among roses. No matter what growth habit you choose, roses offer blooms starting as early as late spring and as late as early fall.
Here’s a quick guide of what you’ll find at our garden center.
Hybrid Tea
Typically what one imagines when they think of a rose bush. This class of rose offers large, high buds and tall, straight stems; generally producing only one blossom at the end of each stem. This is the kind of rose you’ll get from a florist.
Grandiflora
A cross between a hybrid tea rose and a floribunda rose offering hybrid tea-like blooms on long stems, as well as clustered blooms. Typically grows taller than hybrid tea roses.
Floribunda
A breed of roses with high disease resistance and continuously blooming clusters of roses like the classic tea rose, but slightly smaller in flower size.
Shrub – We distinguish these types for their mounded, bushy growth habit. They are generally hardier and tougher than the classic garden types. The blooms are smaller but bloom in abundance, and for a long period of time.
Climbing
This group grows long canes, commonly to 14 feet but as long as 20 feet, that are covered with blooms and are a stunning plant to grow on an arbor, up a trellis, pergola, or up along a fence.

Successful Planting Starts Here
- When planting woody shrubs and trees, and herbaceous non-edible plants, apply Fertilome Root Stimulator to reduce transplant shock, promote early root formation and strengthen root development. This product is not intended for vegetable or culinary herb plants.
- G&B Organics Planting Mix is great for a variety of in-ground planting projects, including planting, amending or mulching – holding moisture and improving drainage.
- The G&B Organics Starter Fertilizer increases transplant success and feeds for several months.