Question
hi
i was sent 2 roses march 17th they weren't supose to come till april. but here they are.i have them in a bucket of water now day two. my Q is may i plant them here in zone 5 MI.? the ground top soil is not frozen but last night was 19degrees
bur. i can't keep these beauties in water much longer. by the way 1 is a bluegirl a blue rose very thick in size the other is angel face a lavender rose i think its a climber if i recall.
Help Me Please!!!!!
tonight is supose to be bur cold also.
but the next week is mild.may i plant them?

Answer
Hi, Mikki--what I would do since it is still so cold is to wrap the roses in something breathable, like several layers of newspaper, old towels, sheets or burlap--roots & canes.  Dig a shallow trench in a protected spot of the yard or bed, and bury the bundle.  Throw some more loose soil, mulch, hay or pine straw over the top.  This should keep them dormant until the proper time for planting, which I would estimate is about 3-5 weeks away for your area.

Check out the American Rose Society site at www.ars.org for more information, especially specific to your area.  You will also find listings for Consulting Rosarians and societies in your area--their help is free also.  There are lots of friendly folks on the rose forums at GardenWeb.com, and you can always reach me here!
Margarett in Memphis