Help! Bare root roses

Oh...I do have some lime somewhere I think:-)

I'm sure the rose will be fine Bornagain. Just stand back and watch the rose flourish with all that blood fish and bone. :-)

What a waste of expensive ericaceous compost is my first thought - I'd be inclined to heave it out and replant with a lot more soil - roses really like clay.

Do as Bamboo says, although there is calcium in bonemeal but not enough to counteract the acid, also you will not get the compost compact for good root growth.

It's freezing here at the moment, should I still attempt it? Bamboo, I was really annoyed with that stupid woman, not letting her near my garden again lol. Beattie, a woman after my own heart, leave it alone and hope for the best:-) Better do as Bamboo and Dr Bob say though, or they will only say "I told you so" when Mortimer doesn't thrive. Should I use my fingers in case I damage roots? Oh frabjous day calloo callay....I'll get frost bite:-((

If the ground is frozen, you can't do it - if its just cold out there, get your cacks on and go and do it - if it was a bare root plant, it shouldn't need handling too carefully, just loosen the compost around it and you should be able to get it out easily. Bear in mind that a rose prefers firmer soil than potting compost can provide, so this time, just add a couple of handfuls of compost (if that's what you're using) to the ordinary garden soil in the hole and plant in that. If you use all that potting compost, because its not loam based, it'll blow over in the first gale...

Okay Bamboo, pond has thin layer of ice, but I'll sacrifice myself...what if I get frost bite?

Frost Bite !!!!! Bite It Back I say LOL, Good Luck with your rose, we all make mistakes at one time or another LOL :o))))

Wear gloves, keep moving, do it fast, you'll be boiling in no time - I'm off outside to clear up some mucky leaves on the flowerbeds, and I have to say, I'm not looking forward to it for the same reasons - it's brass monkeys out there...

I admire your tenacity Bornagain! It's hailing hard here in Cornwall and I'm not going out gardening in it. I hope Mortimer rewards you suitably next summer. :-)

Done the leaves, quite warm by the time I finished - me I mean, not the outside temperature.

Now the leaves are off the trees the cold wind has nothing to stop it. I have been pointing a patio which means covering it, taking it off, pointing with anti freeze in the mix, then re-covering it. The brass monkeys are no help at all.

Anti freeze in the mix, never thought of that one, Docbob - but you're obviously doing the job properly, I always use dry mix brushed in and then watered. As for the brass monkeys, well, never were much use for anything at all...

It's in Plasticize Bamboo, fairy liquid will help, saltpeter shows on brickwork which has been put up in cold weather. Use very little water with Plasticize and it will not stain your paving.