Usual recommendation is to remove the soil from the whole and mix with a combo of garden soil (NOT potting mix), humus, compost, peat and bone meal (IMHO). Your ratio should be 50-50. In zone 5a you would probably want to burry the bud union at least 2", but I'll let those that live in your area/zone weigh in on that.

Rebecca, lots of great advice for you here! Growing in containers is very different than in the ground. I had lots of challenges with mine, even after 40 years of growing tons of roses in the ground. Like others, I've found there's no need for gravel if you add plenty of perlite, make sure there are enough drainage holes, and elevate the pots. You will need to repot; the roses will tell you when by slowing down rate of growth/bloom. Potted roses need liquid fertilizer due to being in a soil-less mix.; there's an excellent explanation on the container forum about why. They need to be fed more often than roses in the ground. In my very hot climate, a good layer of mulch helps conserve moisture. Now I only buy light colored containers; the few darker ones are tucked behind them to protect them from strong afternoon sun. And with all that, some roses just seem to hate being in containers. I've sent a few to new homes for that reason!

Thank you, Stephanie, for the tip of Garden Tutor Soil pH Test kit strips. I find that soil pH test via a solution (red-cabbage juice) is more accurate since it takes at least 1/2 hour for the minerals in soil to dissolve in water. I tested soaking coffee ground in red-cabbage juice, at first it was acidic (pinkish), but after 1/2 hour soak, the solution became clear, coffee ground is known as a buffer. Same with rose park nearby, they scattered a layer of gypsum on top of their clay. I scoop up 1 heaping Tablespoon of their soil and tested in red cabbage juice. At first the solution turned pinkish (acidic), from the 18% of sulfur dissolved first. After 1 hour, the solution became very blue (alkaline), from the calcium of gypsum being slowest to dissolve, plus the alkaline minerals in soil was slow to dissolve. SARENA: for the reason above, it's best to mix gypsum 1 month in advance into soil, and let rain or a few waterings release its acidic sulfur to dissolve minerals in soil (rather than to corrode roots). Since you are in a high-rain climate, it's good to have solid minerals on top to buffer acidic rain, such as a thick layer of Worm Casting (pH 7.4), or your clay (if alkaline like mine at pH 7.7). Vermiculite is to improve moisture and to hold nutrients, plus to make potting soil fluffy for wimpy own-roots. Perlite has zero nutrients but good to MIX-IN so roots can have more oxygen for growth. Own-root roses like moist but airy soil. Both vermiculite and perlite is best mixed into potting soil. One rooting method recommended by University of CA at Davis is to mix 1/2 vermiculite (for moisture & cation exchange) plus 1/2 perlite (for aeration).

Austin, I’m so happy to hear from you, and that you’’ll still be growing your cherished Dark Lady! I hope you have found a great place in Austin, TX close to your family with a nice yard for gardening. I think you’re doing all the right things to baby those late season bare roots. Mounding mulch or coarse soil over the base is so important to prevent dessication. Somtimes I’d cut out the bottom of a nursery pot, invert it over the base and fill it with fine mulch so that the mound would stay in place. When Winnie Edmunds owned Edmunds she recommended everyone to cut the canes to half the length even though it seemed barbaric (her word). I think it’s a good practice, but if you already have buds swelling then they are probably already doing fine. I remember when we were probably the only two from this forum actively posting from the DFW area. Well, I have moved too! I’ve relocated to near the Sacramento area, also to be closer to my family, especially my mother who is 85 (but still in great health). I was told I could bring roses to California if they were bare root…so my friend and I dug out about 80 of my roses, cut them all extremely short and the movers drove them to my new house. I’m very much looking forward to starting a new garden , everyone’s roses look great here, there’s not a trace of blackspot or RRD to be found! And no one in the neighborhood grows the dreaded Knock Out, they all have better things to grow!