Jen,

Grafted, bareroot grade #1 roses, and the equivalent size own root roses can go straight into the ground where you permanently want them. They're mature enough to adjust wonderfully.

With gallon size own root, or any equivalent sized lower grade grafted/bare root, it's a judgement call. With excellent care they often take off growing fine.

Liner size roses are very young, sometimes barely 4-6 months old. They are called liner size because of the pot size, usually 3-4" across, long (8"), black plastic pots they are grown in.

Now liner size (they're always own root), benefit from being upsized to a two gallon size pot, and pot grown for their first year, winterized in a shed, cold garage, etc., where they will get no winter damage, and planted in ground the following year.

I have put just purchased liner size roses directly into the ground their first year, but they need babying. Their first winter is particularly hard on them here even if they put on nice size by season's end. Even with heavy winter protection, and a mild winter, they often experience a good bit of winter die back for me. In your warmer zone than mine you may get away with planting liner size roses directly into the ground, but I usually regret I did so, and you may, too.

Moses

I agree with Moses

It depends on the size. If I order bareroot they go right in the ground . If it is a small liner I have had better luck by giving them some time in a pot. I like to protect the babies a bit.

Personal preference, I love planting bareroot.

I'm with Kate, I plant everything straight into the ground. There's no quicker way for me to kill a rose than to try to grow it in a pot. I can't even keep philodendron alive in pots - heck, even my whiskey barrel of MINT didn't overwinter. I do have pretty good soil and I plant the roses with water retention crystals mixed into the soil to ease the transition into the ground, after letting them acclimate for a week or two.

Cynthia

I cut all Hortico roses down to 3 inches and pot them up for a year. They do really well and grow into 2 foot shrubs. Then I plant them in the garden. I haven't had much success with planting them directly into the garden. They are usually too small and dieback, or just die period,over the winter.