Budget bare-root roses are for planting

Local nurseries have begun potting bare-root roses, placing tender roots in rich soil.

Years ago, most nurseries offered customers a choice of root bundles to plant in February, followed by container plants later in spring. These days, nurseries pot the bare roots for their customers, said Tim Holcomb, owner of Holcomb Garden Center in Hixson.

“The No. 1 grade bare-root roses we receive are not dipped in hot wax and/or severely root pruned, so we start with a superior plant,” Mr. Holcomb said.

“The fact that we pot up our roses allows a much larger window of opportunity to plant them for the customer,” he said. “They can be planted immediately like a bare root or allowed to grow in the container and planted as a potted rose as late as May.”

Roses may seem a luxury during these economic tough times. Nevertheless, opportunities for savings exist, experts say. Here’s a guide to five ways to find value in your rose purchases this year.

1. Join the Tri-State Rose Society. The local society is stocked with expert rosarians, many with national reputations. Trade plants and learn how to make your rose dollar go farther from the pros. For an $8 membership fee, you also can get rose discounts at such nurseries as Holcomb Garden Centers in Hixson and Fort Oglethorpe.

2. Buy local rather than through the mail. Hundreds of bare-root roses are available by mail order. By exploring local options first, you may find you can find the variety you desire and match the total shipping-plus-rose cost here at home. Your purchase will benefit a local business, and you may receive an exchange if your plant fails.

3. Buy in bulk. Some nurseries offer a discount for bulk buys. Research options with nurseries before you buy.

4. Buy no-spray roses. Tests by the University of Tennessee in recent years have identified several rose varieties that stand up to disease and heat in the South. Some leading ones include the Knock Out series, Carefree Sunshine, The Fairy, Topaz Jewel and Belinda’s Dream.

5. Choose a work-horse. Low-maintenance shrub roses help you save money on fertilizers, sprays and water.

“We’re just stoked on the Knock Outs,” said Holcomb Garden Center perennial expert Craig Walker. Other recommendations include Lady Elsie Mae, a tough, coral-pink rose; Livin’ Easy, an apricot-orange floribunda; and Julia Child, a yellow floribunda.