What I gather from this is that if you plant bare roots late in the season, do it in containers, and keep those containers in a part sun area for at least a few months, putting them directly in the ground may be a mistake at this point because they don't have established roots and can't absorb enough water to really prosper in the summer heat. I would say even if you do it in April, (even though you are north of me), you will have to water them pretty much daily for them to have a chance to be successful. I would say your true bare root planting season is probably late February or March, if you go by the recommendations of most propel here, I think you would be safe if you got them and put them in pots and maybe put them in the ground in the fall, after the weather cools a little bit.

Jessica

I've planted bare roots as late as July and had them survive. Not intentionally. I bought some large potted roses from HD on clearance and when I took them out of the pots all the dirt fell off. I doubt they had been in their pots for more than a week before being put out for sale. They were too inexpensive to bother returning them.

I cut off almost all the top growth, drenched the soil and mounded mulch on them for the first few weeks.