Question
Hi Lynnette.  I planted a bareroot guinee rose about a month ago but I'm now worried because I think I have not planted it deeply enough because the union is showing above the soil level by about an inch.  I live in SW FRance, zone 8 equivalent I think (we have a lot of frost in Feb. and temps can go down to minus 10 for some of this time)  My question is should I replant the rose lower to could I simply pack more soil around its base.   I do hope you can help.  I'm a real novice but very keen!

best wishes Judy  

Answer
It would be a wisdom to plant the rose graft about a couple of inches below the soil level, even though your climate doesn't get very nasty winters. Planting below the soil also stops the bush from rocking in the wind plus it incourages the rose to make it's own roots. If the rose has leafed out and is growing, I wouldn't disturb it right now. Just wait until the fall when it drops it's leaves and it will never know it has been moved. By the way, Guinee will give you a better second flush of flowers if you remove the dead flowers right away and don't it make hips.
Hope this helps. Lynnette