How to Get Roses Cheap

Overview

If you want roses in your garden but balk at hefty prices at your local nursery, there are ways to get them for free or without great expense. Growing roses from seed as well as cuttings, and keeping an eye out for deals, will give you new shrubs that are just as beautiful as the expensive roses.

Seeds

Step 1

Choose a rose plant you want to propagate. When a rose hip (the fleshy fruitlet left when the flower falls off) forms and is deep red, remove it from the bush by plucking it off.

Step 2

Plant the rose hip, with the seeds inside of it, immediately. Fill a container with potting soil and place the rose hip inside. Cover it with 1/4 inch of soil and pat the soil down firmly. Water thoroughly.

Step 3

Place the container outside in a protected spot and allow the rose seeds to germinate for up to two years. Once the rose plants are large enough, about 4 to 5 inches tall, transplant them to larger pots or your garden.

Cuttings

Step 1

Cut a 6- to 8-inch section of young stem from a rose bush. The wood should be pliable but not flimsy. Remove any blossoms and the bottom 4 inches of leaves.

Step 2

Fill a container with sterile potting soil. Dip the rose cutting in water then in rooting powder. Gently tap off any excess powder Place the rose cutting into the soil to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Water until the soil is soaked.

Step 3

Place a jar over the rose cutting. Keep the soil around the rose moist for two to three weeks, until roots have formed. You can check that the rose is growing by pulling very gently on the stem. When it is growing well, remove the jar and move to its permanent home.

Stores

Step 1

Check your local clearance section at Lowes, Home Depot or another home improvement store. They often have roses on sale in their garden center at the end of the summer season. Also check local discount stores, like Walmart, Target and Kmart. Their nursery sections usually have roses regularly priced that are less expensive than those at normal garden centers.

Step 2

Sign up for emails or newsletters from your local cooperative extension. They will let you know when Master Gardener groups and local botanical gardens are having plant sales. These sales generally offer very inexpensive plants grown by the sellers, so you know the plants will grow in your area.

Step 3

Check year-end sales at any garden center. When the summer season is coming to an end, many stores have rose bushes on sale for much cheaper than normal just to get rid of them. Make sure these roses will survive in your climate when planted at the end of summer or the beginning of fall.