Ann those are good questions. You should feel comfortable ordering from Chamblee's as they have a great reputation and I suspect will take good care of you. Others who have first hand experience will chime in I'm sure.

I can tell you my experience on the timing of ordering and receiving roses. This last winter I bought oodles of roses. Because April seemed so far away when I was ordering them that seemed like perfect timing but our spring ran long and very cold. I thought the weather would never get above 30 degrees at night. Subsequently all the roses I kept receiving had to be kept inside, put out during the day, yada yada and I drove myself nuts! Next year I will have roses delivered later.

Having said that if you order any bare root roses those can generally be planted as soon as your soil is workable. I think Chamblee's sends potted though so that probably doesn't apply. Basically just have your roses coming when you can work the ground AND the danger of frost has passed.

Have fun with your new roses. Hope this helps.

Kate

Thanks Kate:-> Come to think about it we had a couple of hard freezes in April this year. I think I will have them delivered the first week of May. I planted roses in the beginning of May this year and they are all doing very well.Now I feel more confident, that I will get my roses in May if I order them soon.

Hello Bunny - I ordered two Buck roses from Chamblees last winter and asked for delivery in mid-April, Chamblees shipped the week I requested without and the roses arrived healthy and are doing very well.

You won't have any problems with Chamblees, and if you do, they will make it right.
-terry

Chamblee's is a very very good company. You need not worry. And if you get a chance to visit Tyler, go to their vast nursery...for a rose gardener, it is the candy store!! I like to get up there at least once a year.

I don't know where you are in Arkansas or how cold it gets there during the winter, but here in Texarkana the lows are around 17.
I've had the best luck when I planted from fall through to Valentine's Day. The roses that I plant after February tend to grow really slowly that first year. Fall - winter planted roses have time to develop a good root system during the winter and are ready to GROW during the summer.
Just my 2 cents.
The size difference really is astounding - we're talking about a rose only growing 2 ft if planted in the spring vs a rose growing 5 ft when planted in the fall/winter.
One more thing- I've planted lots and lots of roses, so this is something I've noticed over the years with lots of different varieties. You may not be willing to risk it depending on your winters, but it is something all Southerners should consider doing.

I agree with the fall planting, but if you wish to order in spring, i am further north than you and i always get mine around april 15th.

Hmm. I was just thinking today about fall planting. This is something I have never done. I order many roses from Chamblees, and I want them delivered during my spring break (school teacher). That is around the middle of March in Tulsa.

If it gets cold and I have not planted them, I put them in the corner of my porch, and cover them with a sheet. I remove the sheet during the day.

If I plant them, and it gets cold, I put a sheet over them to protect the new buds and foliage, but don't worry about the plant dying if it is in the ground.

Chamblees is good about answering questions, and can tell you when the recommended time is to send the roses. I have real problems with the roses that I plant by May. It begins to get very hot here in May, and I don't think they do well.

Cweathersby, do you do anything to protect your roses through December, January and Feb., other than to water them?

Sammy

Order with confidence, have used many of the own root vendors(many good ones to choose from) and have never had one problem with Chamblees. No vendor will carry every rose one wants but if they did I'de order from them exclusively.
Jimmy

cweathersby,Sammy and Jimmy, I live in Russellville. It is located half way between Fort Smith and Little Rock. Most of my weather is more like Tulsa, Ok.. I did not think of the idea to put sheets over the plants if it freezes. Thanks for the suggestion. I think I will have one delivered in the fall for an experiment to see what happens over the winter (past science teaceher). The others delivered earlier in the spring. Thank you for your advice and comments! It is nice to have someone to ask questions about roses.
Thanks
Ann

I have to say the roses I recieved from Chamblee's were the best I received this year. They're growing beautifully, blooming, were very carefully packed, sent when asked, and healthy plants.

Sammy,
I don't do any winter protection for my baby roses, and I've never lost any. But I never plant band sized roses in the ground, it's always gallon size or bigger. I think bands would have a hard time surviving.
I don't really water, either, but the ground stays pretty moist around here during the winter. Usually, with a new rose garden, I plant it during the winter, water them in really well while planting, may hit them a couple of more times with water depending on the weather, then leave them alone (while I mulch, etc, around the bed and plant perennials) until sometime in the spring when I get around to making a drip system for them.

This spring, I ordered from Chamblee's for the first time.The plants were very small and the shipping on 2 roses was $20. Granted they are own root roses and the prices are cheap. They are doing well, but it will be next year at least before they start to perform. The cost of shipping probably wasn't out of line; considering how shipping costs have gone out of sight.

russellmuegge, the roses are about 8.90 and the shipping is about 2.00. They end up costing about $10 or $11.00. If you paid $20 for shipping alone, you need to contact them. It was an error or you live far far away.

Sammy

I almost exclusively order from Chamblee's now, unless I want a variety that they do not carry.

I cannot say enough about Chamblees. Great plants, great packaging, timely shipping, etc. Often blooming in the box when you open it.

Their plants are own root so don't expect them to go crazy with growth the first year. But it's worth the wait.

Side note: Here in northern Ohio, spring barely exists. When I open a box of roses from Chamblees in April and I catch the scent of a rose blooming under my nose, sometimes it makes me so happy I get a little teared up. True story.

Also, on shipping: They ship in gallon pots and that is a lot of dirt, so it is heavy and it costs more money to ship to some states than to others. Their prices per plant are extraordinatily low. The shipping can get expensive, but the more you order, the less you pay per rose, so order lots! lol!

I want to say thank you to everyone! I am less nervous about ordering my plants now. I have already placed the order. The Pink Double Knockout will come in Sept. and the other two will be here the first week of April. The knockout will be in the backyard surrounded by privacy, so with mulching I hope it makes it through the winter.
thanks
Ann