At home, he keeps the roses in a cool, dark area until ready to plant. Twenty-four hours prior to planting, he'll submerge the rose in a water solution of a root stimulator such as Superthrive. He saves the solution to drench the roses after planting. Before dunking the roses, he nips back to live wood or clips at least a quarter-inch off each root. Jackson digs a large hole at least 2 feet square and 2 feet deep.
Organic matter is essential to growing good roses.
He mixes equal amounts of organic matter with the soil he takes from the hole. To this soil he adds two cups of sulfur and a cup each of superphosphate and cottonseed meal. Also, he adds one-third cup of Epsom salts or magnesium sulfate and thoroughly blends all together. Now he fills the hole with the prepared soil, and soaks to settle it. Next Jackson builds a pyramid in the center of the hole.