Here’s how simple it is to plant and successfully grow roses.
Plant Location
Any location which receives sunlight at least half of the day (or in which annuals, perennials, or vegetables have been successfully grown) can be made to grow good roses.
In selecting a location for the rose garden, choose one that will receive the maximum amount of sunlight and is located in an open area at least 10’ feet away from other shrubs and evergreens and 20’ feet away from the spread of any trees.
This is essential because sunlight is necessary for rose growth and assists in preventing diseases.
Also, if a garden is located too near other plants, the roots from these plants will extend into the rose bed and rob the roses of food and moisture.
One other caution: select an area that is well drained or where water won’t collect and remain during and after rains.
Good Rose Soil
Good rose soil should contain about 25% organic matter and be moderately fertile.
To achieve this condition, loosen the soil by spading the planting area to a depth of 15” to 18” inches.
Then, spread a four-inch layer of peat moss, humus, compost, or well-rotted cow manure evenly over the area.
To this, add the fertilizer (which may be any balanced fertilizer such as 5-10-5, 7-7-7, or 6-10-4 formula) in the amount of 3-4 pounds per 100 square feet of area, and spread it evenly over the bed.
Next, mix the loosened soil, organic matter, and fertilizer thoroughly to the full depth of the bed.
If this preparation is made about a month ahead of planting time (and this is desirable), the soil will have an opportunity to settle normally.
If this isn’t possible, then tamp or tramp the soil firmly in place before planting so that the bed level won’t settle badly after the planting has been completed and cause the roses to be too much below grade.
Preparing Bed
Allow four square feet of bed surface for each rose to be planted, which will permit planting on two-foot centers.
In other words, a bed 4’ feet wide and 12’ feet long will accommodate a dozen roses. Try to prevent any great delay in planting your roses after they arrive from the nursery.
This is when an already prepared planting area proves its worth. If a delay is necessary, keep the package of roses in a cool, moist place, away from heat, but where the plants won’t freeze.
As soon as you can plant the roses, remove them from the package and place the roots in a bucket of muddy water. Never expose the roots to the drying effect of sun and wind.
In Planting
Open a hole large enough in diameter and depth to accommodate the rose roots, which should be spread out in the hole. For example, a hole 12” to 15” inches across and deep is usually ample.
Trim the roses with a sharp pair of shears, any damaged parts of stems or roots, and place the rose in the hole at a depth so that the knuckle or graft union of the plant is at bed level.
The knuckle or graft is where all the branches originate. Hold the plant at that grade and fill the prepared soil over, between, and around the roots, firming it into place by tamping it with a blunt stick or tramping it lightly in place to eliminate any air spaces between or under the roots.
When the hole is two-thirds full of firm soil, pour one bucket of water into the hole and allow it to settle.
After the water has settled away, add more soil to the hole and continue to fill up around the plant and up over the stems of the rose to a height of 10” to 12” inches in the form of a mound.
This mounding is most important and should be done each time you plant a dormant rose because it protects against loss.
Do Mounding
Mounding prevents the drying out or dehydration of the top of the plant until the roots start to send out their little new root hairs, which are the plant’s first roots to absorb food and moisture.
An interval of two to four weeks is required for root development; in that time, tiny shoots will also develop on the stems of the rose.
With fall-planted plants, this mound of the earth will remain all winter till spring, when the plant will start to grow.
Then the soil mound may be removed. With spring-planted plants, leave the mound until the small shoots have grown out about one inch. Continue planting and mounding until all plants are safely in the ground.
44659 by George Hart