Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Plant Roses in Arizona

...
rose rose image by trottier samuel from Fotolia.com

Sunny Arizona has a large commercial rose economy, and for good reason. Heat prevents disease and insects that plague roses in cooler areas of the country, and the sunshine keeps roses growing year-round. But Arizona also has clay soil and sparse rainfall throughout much of the year, despite the summer monsoon. Planting a rose correctly keeps it happy and blooming, even in Arizona's triple-digit heat.

...
Creek - Sedona, Arizona image by St Clair Photography from Fotolia.com

Determine the planting site and season. Give roses in the low desert an eastern exposure or protection from hot afternoon sun. Plant bare-root roses from mid-December to January in the low deserts of southern and western Arizona, suggests the University of Arizona Extension. In northern and northeast Arizona, plant bare-root roses in March and April. Plant container-grown roses any time of year.

  • Sunny Arizona has a large commercial rose economy, and for good reason.
  • Give roses in the low desert an eastern exposure or protection from hot afternoon sun.
...
roses thorns. image by Jakub Niezabitowski from Fotolia.com

Examine the available rose bushes and pick one with at least three plump, finger-thick canes and a large grafting bud between the canes and roots. For bare-root roses, remove the rose from its packaging and soak the entire plant. The Mesa-East Valley Rose Society recommends soaking a bare-root rose for at least 24 hours.

Prune away any pencil-thick canes. For bare-root roses, trim any broken roots and cut ½ inch from the end of each root to encourage growth. Cut the top canes of bare-root roses to 6 inches, leaving roughly five buds--raised oval areas--on each cane.

...
shovel image by Gudellaphoto from Fotolia.com

Dig a hole 24 inches wide and 18 to 24 inches deep for bare-root roses. Make a mound in the hole to support the bare-root rose and set it in the planting hole. For container-grown roses, dig a hole twice as wide as the container and as deep, and loosen any circling or matted roots before planting. Amend clay soil with a 1:1 combination of mulch or compost. Backfill around the rose, keeping the grafting bud 2 inches above ground level.

  • Examine the available rose bushes and pick one with at least three plump, finger-thick canes and a large grafting bud between the canes and roots.
  • For container-grown roses, dig a hole twice as wide as the container and as deep, and loosen any circling or matted roots before planting.
...
water spout image by tomcat2170 from Fotolia.com

Mulch around the rose to a depth of 4 inches. Cover the grafting bud of bare-root roses with mulch until new growth appears. The University of Arizona Extension recommends watering daily for the first week.

Tip

Ideally the grafting union will be 1 inch above the soil. Set the union 2 inches above the soil when planting to allow for settling.

Warning

Do not use compost or amendments with vermiculite, as it can bond with clay soil and create hard pockets of earth.

Related Articles

How to Transplant Wild Rose Bushes
How to Transplant Wild Rose Bushes
Growing Roses in Phoenix, AZ
Growing Roses in Phoenix, AZ
How to Winterize Roses in Zone 5
How to Winterize Roses in Zone 5
How to Care for Roses in Arizona
How to Care for Roses in Arizona
How to Prune Rose Bushes in the Fall
How to Prune Rose Bushes in the Fall
How to Care for a Knockout Rose in a Container Garden
How to Care for a Knockout Rose in a Container Garden
What Is a Knockout Rose?
What Is a Knockout Rose?
How to Revive Wilted Roses
How to Revive Wilted Roses
How to Deadhead Floribunda Roses
How to Deadhead Floribunda Roses
How to Grow Climbing Roses in Pots
How to Grow Climbing Roses in Pots
How to Clean Roses for Flower Arrangements
How to Clean Roses for Flower Arrangements
Why Does a Rose Petal Edge Turn Brown?
Why Does a Rose Petal Edge Turn Brown?
Garden Guides
×