Hello Tina, your new mix should be fine for a couple of weeks I would think. Sorry I can't help you with regard to the fertilisers you mention as I am not familiar with those brands being from 'over the pond'! The same applies to how often you should water them as my climate is so different. However, even here I can water them at least every other day during the summer as it's surprising how much water they will use in a fast draining mix as others have pointed out. I fertilise once a week spring to autumn. As for trimming roots above the soil...I do this when I raise the caudex each spring, but mainly they are those thin feeder roots that will dry out anyway when exposed. I have also been known to trim those slightly thicker ones as well, say just under pencil thickness if they have been sprouting randomly from the really chunky ones. As long as there's plenty of feeder roots left below, you are fine. The roots/caudex/leaves will bleed clear irritant sap so beware. Can you post a picture, it will make it better for us to help you maybe? Gill from the UK.

Dingo, I have studied the Edmunds and Austin catalogs, but the own root, bare root rose availability, though seen by me, did not register. I believe the deep rooted assumption, since I have been growing roses for just short of 50 years, that bare root roses are always grafted roses, kicked in. Own root container grown roses are still a wonder to me, yet alone own root, bare root roses! Thank you for reinforcing a new concept to me. Rifis, thank you for bringing this to my attention, I did read that and thought it was possibly a misprint. Since the bareroots are primarily grafted on vigorous rootstocks, I thought own root roses were not husky enough to take the fall harvesting, cleaning, and winter cold storage as a, say multiflora rootstock rose can, and be sold as bare root roses, just like grafted roses. Now my question is, "Do they perform as well as container grown roses?"

I agree with Sheila - most of us use the opportunity of planting a rose to do some spot enhancing of the organic material in our soil. I agree that top dressing with organic material is the best long-term solution to improving the soil, but as a short term boost for the soil mixing in compost or something else organic has been very effective for me. I contrast beds where I have been planting roses this way for some time, and the soil in the entire bed becomes this lovely textured and rich soil that I can dig in with my fingers, while beds that I only top-dress haven't worked in that organic material very deeply yet even though they've all been planted the same amount of time. Having said that, you don't have to amend with anything if you start out with good loamy soil like you describe, so there's no particular need to do as much as you've done or certainly to add anything more. For me, the second set of additives is a bit more effort than I want to put in but it sounds fine being all organic and slow acting. The one thing you don't want to do in any new planting is add fast acting fertilizers which for me include most granular fertilizers. Biotone and other organic fertilizers break down more slowly and don't run the risk of burning sensitive feeder roots. I simplify your latter list and add just manure, alfalfa hay, and something to lighten the soil that I can buy in large bulk and relatively cheaply (lately it has been cotton burr compost). My preference is to add no more than 1/3 other substance to the existing soil, since you want the rose to get used to the conditions it's going to expect from here on out rather than getting hooked on any particular amendments at the outset. You've obviously been successful with 1/2 supplements so go with what works for you. I always soak bare roots and you'll find a majority of us do the same, and a majority of the vendors specifically recommend soaking the roots. The principle is to make sure the rose is adequately hydrated to handle the transition to the ground. One look at dried out husks of body bag roses indicates how important hydration is for bare root roses. Cynthia

Grab that Shirley's Bouquet! It is a beautiful clear white, lasts a long time on the bush. I had Moonlight Magic a long time ago but dont think it did much - but cant remember. Where did you see Shirley? I want another one. I got several body bags of Cl. Royal America - I read really good reports about it on HMF and went back to get 3 more. They are potted and starting to leaf out. Definitely get Shirley!