Things To Keep In Mind When Rose Planting

Rose planting is more than just the depth of the hole and when fertilizer should be used.  A first and important step in rose planting that should not be overlooked is picking the location of where you are going to plant your roses.  It is as true in planting as it is in real estate; location, location, location.  There are many things to be considered upon selecting the location for our rose plants.

Will the place you choose to plant your roses get enough sunlight?  The majority of rose species should have at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight a day.  Even shade tolerant rose plants need about four to six hours of direct sunlight to be healthy. 

Another question to ask in rose planting: Is the soil where you plan to plant your roses healthy?  Roses need nutritious soil and are hungry eaters.  They dislike soil that has high clay or sand content.  A quick test you can do with your soil to find out if it has too much clay or sand is to clump it in your hand.  If the soil holds the form and does not easily crumble, it has high clay content.  If the soil easily crumbles and does not hold the form, it has a lot of sand.  Good soil should crumble easily but hold the mold as well.  The soil should also not be too acidic, contain too much limestone or too much chalk.

And lastly, ask yourself this when rose planting: Is the location you are going to plant your roses at in close proximity to other plants or trees?  There are a lot of larger plants and trees that extract water and nutrients from the soil from their roots that go past their drip line.  If you see a lot of roots upon digging the hole for your rose bush, it will most likely mean trouble for your plant.  There are some climbing roses and some shrubs that are an exception but most rose plants only like to be mixed with other roses or other non-invasive plants.

Now that you have the perfect location for your rose plant, you can think about the basics in rose planting such as how deep the hole should be.  You will need to dig a hole that is slightly larger than the size of the pot the plant is in or root system of the plant.  The approximate depth depends upon the climate you are living in.  Colder places need to plant their roses a little deeper.  It is suggested that you consult other rose gardeners in the area as to which is the correct depth for your plant.

Rose planting depths may vary for many people but everyone can gain something by loosening the soil at the base of the hole.  Compost can also be placed at the base of the hole with added bone meal which is a good source of Phosphorus and acts slowly to encourage the growth of healthy roots.  Spread out the roots slightly after you place the plant into the hole.  Refill the hole and make sure that the soil settles around the roots.  Watering the roots is essential before covering them with the final few inches of soil.  And lastly, place the remaining soil back into the hole and slightly press to make the soil firm.  You can also water the plant at this stage.