How to Prune Dried Cane Bare-Root Roses

As the name implies, bare-root roses don't come in a pot with soil; they arrive at the nursery or in the delivery with their roots exposed. Although bare-root roses should be planted as soon as possible after receiving them, it's necessary to wait until the soil is warm and workable. The roses cannot be planted as-is, though, because a little maintenance must be performed on the plant before actually setting it in the soil.

Things You'll Need

Clippers
Towel
Isopropyl alcohol

Bucket
Root stimulator

Instructions

- 1
  Clear the clipper blades of debris and dirt with a damp towel. Sterilize the blades with isopropyl alcohol.
- 2
  Remove the bare-root roses from the package and trim away damaged or diseased roots. Cut back by 1/4-inch all healthy roots to stimulate new growth.
- 3
  Rehydrate the plant in a bucket of water for eight to 12 hours or longer. Although just the roots are normally dehydrated, the entire plant can be immersed if the canes look dehydrated. Although not necessary, many gardeners mix root stimulator in with the water to encourage quick growth, following package instructions for quantities.
- 4
  Prune back excess canes from the plant, leaving three to five canes per plant, with three to five buds --- which look like raised oval areas --- per cane. Remove canes thicker than the diameter of a pencil, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Avoid making jagged cuts or tearing the skin of the plant, which may introduce infection. Trim all canes to no more than 6 to 8 inches tall.

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