Thanks to everyone for all of the wise advice! I'm happy to see that last post by professorroush especially (thank you!) because I have decided to go ahead with the planting of the rugosas. At the very worst, I'll end up with a good post for the "worst gardening mistakes ever" forum ;) I do have a little bit of time to try and amend the area a little bit in the hope that I can add enough material to get the pH down a little bit at least. Do you all think I should mix in some peat? Or something else? Is there an acidic bagged soil widely available that is marketed for things like azaleas or anything like that? I love digging in the dirt so I'm not opposed to making it a bit of a raised/mounded bed either...

I've been having the same question batting around inside my head since small plants were delivered last week from another source. The poor little things are rootbound in what I consider to be too small 2" pots and it's a bear to try and maintain correct moisture level. Since I don't have beds completely amended I can't plant everything now and the little plants will get trampled as I work in gardens. Scored a load of shipping pots and trays from Home Depot on Thursday. They were just sitting tossed here and there in the outdoor garden section. Asked the cashier if they save them and she said they just collect them at the end of the day and toss. Let me take as many as I could fit in car with all other stuff I bought. Bleached everything, going to reduce excessive drainage holes and use to pot up tiny rootbound plants until I find them permanent home. Took me over a week to figure out I can't hold them over in their present containers and there wasn't enough time before they're damaged too far that I won't have to worry about planting them when beds are ready. Buckets of rain soaked clay soil and haven't been able to work on amending beds for improved drainage. Got email yesterday about Bluestone's sale and was sorely tempted. Think I'll go for some affordable one quarts or gallons at local nurseries so I don't have to face this situation again. Moving them in and out to harden off, trying to maintain proper moisture and worrying about rootbound state isn't something I have extra time for at this point in gardening season. Everything seems to need close attention this time of year! I don't even know "what I don't know yet" about all this gardening stuff...LOL.

Don't fret, Lilyfinch, I'm sure your roses will be fine! There's no use worrying about whether they'll survive the winter, worrying won't help anything. You already placed the order and they are probably on their way, so all that's left to do is be happy that your little roses are coming!! I guess I'm in the same boat as you because my Heirloom rose arrived today! And I'm in zone 5! I was beginning to regret my decision to order such a small rose this late in the season soon after I ordered, but now that it's here I am nothing but optimistic that it will survive. It's so cute and looks healthy. We need to get them acclimated to the outdoors quickly (shouldn't be hard with so many nice warm weeks of summer left), and with a pile of leaves to insulate them over the winter I think we will be enjoying our roses come spring :)

Brenda ~ I always plant late arriving irses in pots and overwinter in the house. This year I have MANY! I also got the 2 collections from Botanus and 4 from Vesey's. I usually purchase my irses from Trail's End or Chuck and have many from both of them that arrived in August. Ann just sent me 5 I was looking for as a gift for the puppy they adopted from my pack, I'm assuming....;). I much prefer fresh dug early to shriveled up late. =:> My main concern was the warm weather and the tulips. We are having a very late summer here. :/ I received these ones from McFayden's Visiting Royalty Raven Girl Exclusivity Rio Rojo Vesey's- 2 Rustler, Pagan Dance and Ziggy. :) Wonder what is up with McFayden's?