Hi! I'm from Pittsburgh too! I don't have much advice about the bare roots. I just soak them as directed, plant them in good soil, and they do just fine. I'm sure someone here will have some great advice regarding that.
But I am so excited to meet a fellow neighbor looking for roses in pgh! I order most online because I love old garden roses and David Austin roses. Thedavid Austin roses sold around Pittsburgh are priced so much higher I've noticed. Like 35$ vs the usual 20ish for the others. Anyway, that's not what you asked! :) I live in Verona , so I go to Michael brothers in cheswick (love them!) , mc tighes on route 8 (also love!) best feeds nursery in the north hills, hahns nursery in the north hills , trax farms is very nice but far for me, Reilly's farm and garden is far but lovely to visit too. They all sell roses. I do call around to see if they have gotten them in, I feel like by mothers day they all have them.
I have never heard of the two you mentioned, so I'm going to look them up! I love visiting local nurseries.
Please do post pics in the spring of your garden! I especially love seeing gardens in areas similar to mine. You may be the closest person to me I've seen here! :)

Thank you for replying lilyfinch!

I'm familiar with Trax as I grew up not far from there. Chapon's is in Baldwin and they are very knowledgeable and helpful. They also sell organic gardening stuff as well. I am looking for an Eden climber, an Anne Boleyn to plan in a large container, and some others that may do well in shade.

Bedner's is located in Washington County and I have heard nothing but good things about them. They supposedly have a HUGE variety of plants.

Here's a link to Chapon's

Here is a link that might be useful: Chapon's greenhouse

It would be helpful if you describe the soil in your bed. If you have good loam you'll get different advice than if you have heavy clay or sand. Do you know if it is acid or alkaline?

It is also important to know if your rose is grafted and on which rootstock it was grafted.

Melissa, the rose hybridizer, Jack Christensen, wrote some useful "tips for growing good roses easily" that you might look over.

Harryshoe, It's good to see you back!

Here is a link that might be useful: Jack's Tips

I had Eden once upon a time, before I knew anything about roses. I pulled it out because I was too impatient and didn't realize roses needed to settle in a year or so before you can expect a show. I used to move roses every year, shame on me!
I do know that chamblees carries Anne Boleyn. It's an online vendor I have used and love. They send very healthy own root roses , often with more than one plant in a pot so you can separate them and get more out of them. I don't think you'll find a better price locally for David Austin's ! And my observation, which is only what I have noticed, is that the local places here do not get such variety in David Austin's. I sometimes email nurseries to see if they'll tell me what they are expecting or I'll ask for a variety in particular. Most are more than happy to respond!
I have seen Eden sometimes at lowes and hd. I might give her another try if I stumble upon her.
Not sure how much shade you are working with but, I have the fairy in a part sun area (am sun til 1) and it blooms like crazy for me and is fabulous. Also, hybrid musk roses are somewhat shade tolerant. I grow a few, not in shade tho. Buff beauty, one of my favorites, darlows enigma and ballerina, lavender lassie, Cornelia ,Danae and I think my bubble bath rose is a musk too. Maybe the hybrid musk catagory will interest you?

Sorry if I babble too much! :)

Thanks guys!

Harry--honestly I am not sure what type of soil I have and am going to have it analyzed this year. I know my yellow roses (do not know the name but it's a Hybrid Tea) and my Blue Moon grew quite well in the area the last few years.

Also---has anyone ordered from Brushwood Nursery? They have an Eden climber in a container I am thinking of ordering.

Thanks!

General guidelines for planting bare root roses aren't so much different than regular potted roses. In fact I would usually take the potted rose's dirt and remove it. Amend as much of the area with good quality organic material as possible, i.e. not just a "tub" where the rose will be planted, but a good 2-3 foot diameter area around the rose, and 2 feet deep. Put a half a cup of high phosphate fertilizer in the hole when you plant, as phosphorous travels slowly through the soil, so it gives it a little boost at the get go. Bone meal works well for this purpose. Make a cone in the center of the planting area, and splay the roots out over it, and then cover up to as high as your area dictates. If you're warmer than zone 6, you can place the graft above the ground, if you're much colder, place it a little below and cover with mulch over winter.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bare root rose planting

Uh oh, there's that walking on the roots thing in the above link. I got yelled at for this a few years back. Damage to those little feeder roots and soil impaction.

Mike,
Thanks. I never actually left the Forum, I just haven't posted much. I still read the advice offered by pros like you.

I'm sure this is NOT the best way to do it, but it works for me! LOL

All the big box stores bring the bare root roses out in the next few weeks. Every year, I can't resist buying 'just a few' and then there's no where to plant them, until May. I tried planting early one year...and they froze, but we're in zone 4.

So, I put them next door (in the old, unheated farmhouse...much like a garge with a big window) and left them there until May. I put them in buckets and made sure they had a little water in the bag, if they started to feel too light, but you don't want to make them mushy.

By May, I had leaves and even a few buds. I took them out of the packages, soaked them in the bucket for a few hours and planted them in the garden. Just make sure you have plenty of dirt under the roots, to keep them from getting squished. By June/July...they're covered with flowers and very happy. You have to be creative, with three month summers :)

I should have said three month frost free growing season, instead of three month summers. LOL