A beautiful beginning for your new rose (first 2–3 months)
Dear rose enthusiast,
Thank you for choosing Highgarden Roses to grace your garden. We’re honored to be part of your growing journey, and we want your rose to thrive—not just today, but for years to come.
This guide is written for the most important window in rose care: the first few weeks after shipping and transplanting. Get this stage right, and everything that follows becomes easier.
For the first 2–3 months, success comes down to three simple commitments:
Outdoors, in full sun (roses are not indoor plants).
Plenty of water while your rose is establishing.
Skip fertilizers and compost at the beginning.
These are the three most common ways people unintentionally harm a new rose—and the easiest ones to avoid.
Your rose has been traveling. Give it a calm, steady transition.
Unbox promptly and keep your rose out of heat.
Check soil moisture and water thoroughly if it’s dry.
If the plant looks tired from transit (slightly droopy or yellowed), place it outdoors in bright shade for 24–48 hours, then move it into full sun.
Depending on the season and temperatures during transit, your rose may arrive with minimal foliage, and sometimes may appear partly or fully dormant. This is normal—dormancy is simply the rose conserving energy.
Keep your rose outdoors, follow the watering guidance below, and allow time for buds to swell and new growth to emerge as temperatures warm.
Roses are sun-lovers—this is where your garden sets the tone.
A newly transplanted rose needs oxygen at the roots. Start clean and simple.
If you purchased a smaller rose (size S–M), you’ll often have a higher success rate by planting it in a pot first. After 2–3 months of steady growth, you can move it into the ground.
When you’re ready to plant in-ground:
Roses need regular watering. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
For the first 2–3 weeks (while your plant is establishing itself):
Cooler temperatures: water very thoroughly at least once a day.
Warmer temperatures (above 70°F): water 2–3 times a day
Once your rose has acclimated, you can water less frequently depending on weather conditions.
It’s so tempting to feed a new rose to “help it grow,” but too much fertilizer—or rich soil amendments—can burn newly transplanted roots and do more harm than good at this stage.
Please do not add fertilizers, compost, manure, or any substance that may contain excessive salts in the beginning.
This is, in our experience, the most common reason roses fail after transplant.
Own-root roses can have a more delicate root system at first compared with many grafted roses on vigorous rootstock. Early fertilizing is simply too strong during establishment—when roots are the priority.
When to start:
Please wait until your rose has 2–3 months of stable growth before adding fertilizers and organic substances.
This is one of the most common questions—and it’s usually a sign you’re doing it right.
Own-root roses often start smaller. They establish thoughtfully, then build strength season after season.
Size matters. If you selected a smaller size (especially band-size), it’s naturally petite in the beginning—designed to grow up and out with time.
Pruning and settling-in can change appearance. A rose may look “quieter” after travel and transplant, then quickly respond with fresh breaks and branching once it’s comfortable.
The long-term reward is a rose that becomes an integral part of your garden—strong, stable, and beautifully itself.
If you’ve planted your rose and notice the canes turning black (dieback at the top), don’t panic—this can happen more frequently with certain varieties.
When you’re ready to plant in-ground:
Your first blooms are often a “getting acquainted” moment.
Initial blooms can be smaller and may show different color or form as the plant acclimates to your environment.
The key to a successful rose garden is TLC and patience—the classic rule of green thumb is: sleep, creep, leap.
Be patient and let your rose grow in the same spot for at least 3 years before making up your mind about a variety.
With patience and proper care, it can reward you with hundreds of blooms each season.
In the coming weeks, your rose will do what it was made to do: root in first, then flourish. You’ll often see buds swell, fresh breaks, and new branching as it settles into its new home. And because our roses are grown to become romantic garden roses—not quick greenhouse fillers—the early stage can feel quiet. That’s normal. The payoff is a rose that matures with depth: stronger growth, fuller structure, and blooms that become more true to their character as the plant establishes.
We hope the notes above help you create a stunning and vibrant rose garden. If you have any questions or need guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.