How to Plant Potted Rose Bushes Outside & Prune Them

• 1

  Select a well-ventilated site that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight everyday. The plants prefer a well-drained, sandy loam with a pH of about 6.5. Avoid planting in poorly ventilated and cramped areas as this leads to pest infestations and diseases.

• 2

  Dig the planting hole twice the diameter of the container and the same depth. The planting hole should not be less than 1.5 feet wide and 1 foot deep.

• 3

  Mix the removed soil with 1 cup of well aged or composted manure. Put some of this soil into the hole so that the bud union (where the root stalk and shoots meet) will be level with the soil line once planted.

• 4

  Water the potted plant well. Lay it on the side and press gently to loosen it out. If you see roots circling the root ball, cut them loose or pry them loose with you fingers.

• 5

  Place the plant in the hole. Fill hole halfway with soil. Water well to remove air pockets. Fill hole with soil to the top. Be sure that the bud union is level with the surface. Water regularly until plants are established. Give roses about 1 inch of water per week once they're established.

Pruning

• 6

  Prune the bush a year after planting. Do not prune very heavily until plant is 2 to 3 years old. The best time to prune is just before bud break in early spring.

• 7

  Remove all the dead canes and the dead stubs on the live canes during spring. Also cut out the weakly growing stems and thin the crowded canes.

• 8

  Make all cuts at a 45-degrees angle and one-quarter inch above a sprouting bud when cutting a live cane. Follow this rule when deadheading. This is the process where the spent flowers are regularly removed from the bush.

• 9

  Select a spot above an outward facing bud whenever possible. This lets the new shoots grow away from the plant center and improves shape.