Growing zones
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Experience the McKay Nursery Legacy With over a century of experience since 1897, McKay Nursery has been dedicated to growing top-quality plants in-house. Visit one of our garden centers in Wisconsin, or order our plants online. Allow us to upgrade your landscape with our wide selection of eye-catching plants, including the Nearly Wild Rose, known for its repeat blooming flowers. Order your very own Nearly Wild Rose today and experience the difference that over 120 years of expertise brings.
For more information, contact us at [email protected] or call us at 920-478-2121.
- Sun
- Mature Plant Size (H x W): 2-3' x 2-3'
- Bloom Season: Summer, Fall
- Attracts Bees
- Drought Tolerant
- Salt Tolerant
- Long Blooming
- Attracts Butterflies
- Cut Flower
- Fragrant Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
Planting & Care for Nearly Wild Shrub Roses
Preparation
- Species roses, including early wild rose varieties, may be mass-planted in beds and borders or planted alone in the garden.
- The hardiness of wild roses is variable according to the growing season.
- Many true wild roses can tolerate extreme cold, while others can be singled by frost.
- To form stocky shoots and flower bounteously, roses need full sun all day.
- Good air circulation is important, but shelter from strong wind to avoid flower damage.
- Rose bushes prefer heavy but well-drained, humus-rich loamy soils.
- You can improve light, sandy, gravelly, or chalky soils by adding large amounts of well-rotted manure or decomposed garden compost several weeks before planting.
- Add garden lime to highly acidic soils.
Opening Plant Material
- Bare Root: Cut open the bundle (top and roots are tied) and separate all the plants. Soak roots in buckets of water until planted. Each plant type will be labeled separately for identification. Do not expose the roots to the sun. They should never dry out. Keep roots covered. All bare-root plants must be trimmed when planted.
- Containers: Completely saturate all container plants by putting them in a larger container of water until they stop bubbling, then remove the plant from the container.
Planting Bare Root
- Plant Bare root in spring or fall. A good indicator of whether you can still plant is if the ground is still workable; you’re good to go. If a hard frost is expected, be sure to hold off on planting.
- Dig a hole at least 6" wider and the same depth as the root mass. The crown or graft of the plant should be slightly higher than the ground level where it was grown at the nursery.
- Trim off the broken roots and branches.
- Place fertilizer packets in the hole (if purchased). Do not place other fertilizers in the planting hole. *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer.
- Spread the roots and fill halfway with soil, then water until the soil settles completely, saturating the soil and planting pit.
- Re-adjust the plant and fill the hole with the rest of the soil.
- Backfill the balance of the soil and water well.
- See our Planting & Handling Guide for additional planting information and illustrations.
Planting containers
- Wild rose shrubs, including early wild rose species, can be planted from March to November.
- Dig a hole no deeper than the depth of the container and 6" or wider on the sides.
- Slide the plant from the pot by tapping on the bottom of the pot.
- With a shovel or knife, trim the bottom 2" off of the root ball for plants in plastic containers.
- Rotate the plant to the proper position. Never lift or move plants by the tops.
- Place the root ball in the hole.
- Adjust the plant height so the root crown is slightly higher than the ground.
Place fertilizer packets into the bottom of the hole (if purchased). *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer - Back-fill the hole with soil, ensuring the top of the root ball is visible and slightly higher than the soil around it.
- Firm the soil around the plant. Water well to settle soil around the root ball.
Water frequently when newly planted.
Pruning - After Planting
- Bare Root: Prune ALL bare root plants to reduce transplant shock and ensure success. Pruning should occur before or as soon after planting as possible and be done with sharp pruning shears.
- Thin ⅓ to ½ shrub by removing large branches. Top back some branches to improve the general shape. Cut the shrub back to at least ½ its original size to promote new growth from the base. See illustrations in our Planting & Handling Guide to help with this process.
- Containers: Although it is not essential for container plants to be pruned after planting, a light pruning to remove any broken branches during shipment and improve shape will help the appearance of your new planting.
Pruning - Through-out the Season
- Tackle pruning in early spring before buds burst. Typically, this is around March-April.
- In fall, shorten extra-long stems on bush roses to avoid them catching the wind and loosening the stem.
- Always cut to just above a bud.
- Deadhead all roses weekly to channel energy into new shoots and more flowers.
Watering - After Planting
- Plants typically take approximately 6 weeks to establish new roots in the soil. During this period, water plants as often as every 2-4 days at the start and at least a minimum of once per week.
- Beyond the 6-week establishment period, water is used once per week unless rain occurs.
Watering - Through-out the Season
- After the first season, plants should only be watered during extended periods without rain.
- How do you know if your plants need water? The easiest way to tell is to touch the soil around the roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If dry, give it a good soak with the hose end (no nozzle), watering the soil only, not the leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common pests and diseases that affect Nearly Wild Rose Plants?
What are some companion plants that pair well with Nearly Wild Rose?
How do I propagate the Nearly Wild Rose?
What are the ideal climate zones for Nearly Wild Rose?
How do I protect Nearly Wild Roses in winter?
Planting & Handling Help
Download our Planting and Handling Guide below to plan for a successful arrival and install of your plants. Be sure to water all plants as soon as they arrive and every day until you’re ready to plant. Keep any bare root bundles in a shady, cool spot with the roots covered at all times.
Learn More
Watch our videos on handling bare root plants, how your order is prepared for shipment and more.
Plant Sizing
What is the difference between Containers, Grow Bags, Bare Root, and Balled & Burlap (B&B)?
Shipping Times
Our FedEx and local shipping times depend on two factors, one is by the region and the second is the type of product being shipped. For example, small fruits are only shipped in spring, but majority of our perennials are shipped from spring until fall. Keep in mind the dates below act as a general guide. Due to unpredictable weather, staffing, inventory and industry demands these timelines can change. Therefore, we cannot guarantee any of these times.
Shipping Dates by Region*
Northern Cold Region: April 22nd - November 7th
Northern Region: April 15th - November 7th
Middle Region: April 1st - November 7th
Southern Region: March 15th - November 7th
Local Delivery (small radius from Waterloo, WI): April 22nd - November 7th
Shipping Dates by Season*
Spring Shipping: Region Start Date (above) - May
Fall Shipping: September - November
Due to unpredictable weather, these times may vary. Some varieties are exceptions due to heat and plant health reasons. Enter your shipping zip code at the top of this page and be sure to check the shipping information on each product before you add it to your cart. If the product is too large or restricted in your state, you will not be able to checkout with that item in your cart.