Buying mature plants

[LittleBitofBread]

I realise this might be a very silly question, but can you buy bigger, more mature plants? I'm specifically looking for a dog rose, but am too impatient to start with a tiny one.

Yes, you pay a but more, david Austin is a good site or crocus.

Buying in person when you want a bigger plant is a good idea. You can see exactly what you’re getting. Failing that I agree that David Austin is great for roses. They come in 6 litre pots, that’s a good indicator you’re getting a bigger specimen.

Definitely can but obviously more expensive

Thank you all! I'm prepared for them to be expensive; I'm paying not to have to wait

It’s worth paying more, you won’t regret it - just check the litre size of the pot before you buy online. Some times the pictures are deceiving.

I have cheap roses and DA roses. The DA are much prettier but the cheap ones are more rewarding and get more comments. Roses grow quickly anyway.

If you are buying mature plants, bear in mind how fast and how big they grow. Perfect now might mean maintenance.

English Roses from David Austin Roses | Bare Root & Potted Plants

I'm happy to maintain them. I need a bit of privacy along one side of the garden. They don't have any at DA just now; is it the wrong season? And what's a bare root plant?? (again, excuse my ignorance please.)

You're new to this gardening lark, I take it.

Yup

A bare root plant is a plant that is supplied without soil.
Mature plants tend to be planted in the winter, when the soil is moist.
It's as dry as anything here now, and definitely not the right time to put plants in the earth, unless you like watering them.

I mention maintenance because some plants need a lot of maintenance. Some get too big too quickly, and some spread.

Thank you. I guess I should wait til winter then.

Bare root plants are planted while they are dormant (hibernating) and can survive out of the ground for a while (autumn, winter, v.early spring).
As soon as they are actively growing they need an established root system.

Buying and planting large, mature specimens at this time of year means that you are going to have to water them all summer so they can establish properly and grow roots into the surrounding soil.

Try a trellis and clematis/jasmine/vine?
Bare Root - Bush & Climbing Roses - Bare Root Roses - Roses - Garden Plants?
If you are planting a hedge, choose some plants that do something. A uniform bank of green looks a bit dull after a while.
Forsythia grows quickly and is a welcome sight in early spring.

@LittleBitofBread you can buy a 2ltr potted dog rose from here, or wait until winter to buy a bare root one.