What to Do When Your Roses Arrive
Your roses have arrived. A few simple steps now will help them recover from transport and prepare for successful planting.
What you do next depends on whether your roses have arrived bare root or in pots. Start by opening the parcel promptly and checking the plants, then follow the instructions for your delivery format below.
Your first-hour checklist
- Open the parcel as soon as practical after delivery.
- Check that the labels on the roses match your order.
- Remove the plants from closed packaging so they are not left unnecessarily in a warm box.
- Check for any obvious transport damage.
- If you notice significant damage, take clear photographs before discarding any packaging and contact Famous Roses so we can help.
- Identify whether your roses are bare root or potted, then follow the appropriate instructions below.
First, check what is normal on delivery
Roses can look very different depending on the season and the form in which they are delivered. A dormant bare-root rose, a newly growing potted rose and a summer rose after its first flowering cycle will not look the same.
If you are wondering whether the appearance of your rose is normal, use our delivery guide before deciding that something is wrong.
What to do next
If your roses arrive bare root
- Keep the roots protected from direct sun and drying wind.
- If you are planting soon, prepare the planting position before leaving the roots exposed.
- Before planting, soak the roots in clean water for approximately 10–12 hours to help rehydrate the plant after transport.
- If planting must be delayed, keep the roses cool and protect the roots from drying out.
- Plant as soon as conditions allow and the soil is workable.
- Do not apply fertiliser at planting time. Follow the feeding guidance in the bare-root planting guide.
If your roses arrive in pots
- Remove them from the delivery box promptly.
- Check the moisture level of the compost and water thoroughly if it is dry.
- Place the pots in a bright, well-ventilated position while they recover from transport.
- During very hot weather, protect newly delivered roses from intense midday sun while they acclimatise.
- If you are not planting immediately, continue to monitor the moisture in the pots carefully.
- When you plant, keep the root ball intact and water deeply afterwards.
Has your potted rose arrived during very hot weather? Give it time to acclimatise after transport and adapt planting and watering to the conditions in your garden. See our specialist guide: Planting Potted Roses in Hot Weather →
Water according to the rose and the conditions
Newly delivered and newly planted roses need careful attention to moisture, but avoid relying on a rigid watering calendar.
Temperature, rainfall, wind, soil type, drainage and whether the rose is growing in the ground or in a container all affect how quickly the root zone dries.
Water deeply when needed rather than giving frequent small amounts that only wet the surface.
Your next steps
Once you know that your roses have arrived as expected, move on to the appropriate planting and care guidance.
Still unsure about your roses?
If something does not look right, or you are unsure what to do next, contact us. A photograph of the rose and its label can help us understand the situation quickly and guide you to the safest next step.