How to Grow Roses in Wisconsin

Place the roses in a bucket filled with water. The whole root system should be submerged. Place them in a cool area and let soak for at least 4 hours, but not more than 24 hours.

Dig a hole about 1.5 feet deep by 1.5 feet wide. The size of the hole may seem large, but it will allow the roots to be spread out. Keep only the first 8 inches of top soil and discard the rest. Thoroughly mix together remaining soil with well-cured compost and one-half cup of phosphorous 0-20-0 fertilizer.

Plant the roses in the ground with the bud-eye just slightly above the ground level. The soil should be covering the root system only. Fill in the hole about one-third of the way with the prepared soil, firm it by pressing it down, and fill the rest of the way with the remaining soil.

Water immediately after planting. Slowly pour two or three gallons of water around and over the base. Water is crucial for settling the soil around the root system and providing much needed nutrients. Prune outward facing bud eye so growth grows out instead of into the center.

Prune and mulch the plants. Prune back canes to about 3 to 4 inches. This will promote new growth. The plant should break dormancy in the first two weeks after planting. At this time, it is crucial that the plant be sheltered from strong spring Midwestern winds. These winds can quickly dry out and kill the roses. Once the bud eye begins to grow out, the plant should start to bloom in about 5-7 weeks, depending on how the Wisconsin weather is that season.

Fertilize the roses in spring, when the soil is workable, which is typically during the first half of April for best results in Wisconsin. Use the following fertilizer formula: 1/4 cup of Epsom salts, 1/2 cup of bone meal and alfalfa meal, 1 to 2 cups of basic granular fertilizer (organic if possible) and 2 to 3 shovels worth of compost. Gently work the fertilizer in the first inch of the soil surface. Use caution to not damage feeder roots, which are found close to the soil surface.

Fertilize the roses monthly in the summer. Do the first feeding in early May for best results in Wisconsin. Fertilize with a cup of dry fertilizer or 1 gallon of fish/kelp liquid. The final feeding should be a minimum of six weeks prior to the first Wisconsin frost. Work the fertilizer in the same manner as the spring fertilizer. You can also spread a shovelful of compost around the plant.

Prune any dead wood in the spring. Dead wood is brown on the inside. In the harsh weather conditions of Wisconsin winters, the plant might need to be pruned down to the snow line. Roses require little regular pruning, but they may be pruned to control their shape if desired.

Water the roses frequently. Never allow the soil to become dry. During the growing season, the plant should receive an average of 1 inch of water per week. Do not let the roses stand in water, though, as this will cause root rot.