Roses blooming in bags- what now?

[Willowynd]

OK, I have put off planting these body bag roses until my antique ones get here so I would be able to plot them out nicely with colors and all. Well....I have kept the roses watered and now they are not only full of leaves, but this morning I was a bud starting to bloom. Normally I would trim back the bush after planting...but now what do I do?

[Ann Mary]

I would recommend that you cut off the blooms, plant them up in a pot until you can get them in the ground and set them in the shade for a couple of days. They will die from lack of nutrients and being in the 'body bag' too long. Or look up in the antique rose book the ones you have on order so you can see the colors and then keep that in mind as you go ahead and plant these 'body bag' roses...but I'd still cut off the blooms and buds. You want the energy to go to the roots and not the flowers until it is established. Keep in mind as you plant that roses adore bunny manure or other such manure and be sure to put some down in the bottom of the hole...just don't let roots set in it when you plant or it might shock them too much at first. Happy rose gardening!

[Willowynd]

Thanks I will go ahead and do that.