No, the sparse root system is because the roots are chopped way back so they can fit in those bags or boxes that the box stores sell them in. Give it a good soak and plant it with the bud graft below ground. I had a boxed Don Juan for afew years that I bought boxed locally but I didn't like the fact that it was virused. I bought an own root non virused one from Heirloom roses three years ago and when that new one grew out, I tossed the old one. There was a big difference in the amount of flowers produced between the virused one (not so many) and the new one (lots of bloom). Don Juan is a very beautiful rose.
