Flower Garden Care

 By Neal Klabunde

How To Plant Your New Rose Bush To Ensure Years Of Enjoyment

Roses are generally shipped bare rooted wrapped in peat moss, but they can also be purchased at your local garden center potted. Roses are usually sold in the late winter for planting in March or April in most areas. They are shipped in a dormant stage and it’s important that they be planted before new growth starts.

Your roses should be planted in an area that receives at least six hours of sunlight daily. The soil should be well drained and contain abundant organic material. If necessary, add compost when you plant the bush. Roses also like their soil slightly acid in the pH range of 5.8 to 6.3. Soil pH can be checked easily with a basic soil test kit and the proper amendments incorporated into the soil at planting time.

Rose bushes should be spaced 24 to 36 inches apart. The bushes will grow and good air circulation is essential for preventing diseases and mildew. Check the planting instructions that came with the bush or ask your local garden center for advice specific to your variety and location.

Be sure that the area where you will be planting the roses is free of weeds and grasses.

Bare Root Plants-

Soak the roots of the bush for 12-24 hours to help it with the transition back to being in the soil. Prune the roots back one-half inch to encourage new root growth. Dig a hole for your rose bush that is at least two feet in diameter. Prune the roots back one-half inch to encourage new root growth. Mix some compost in with the dirt that you dug out of the hole. Create a mound of dirt in the bottom of the hole and spread the roots over it. Gently pack the remaining soil around the roots making sure that the graft union is slightly below the final soil level. This can be easily checked by placing a straightedge across the hole.

Potted Plants-
Potted rose planting is generally the same except all you need to do is pop the plant out of the container and ensure that it is planted at the same depth as it was in the pot.

Your newly planted roses should be mulched, but keep the mulch a few inches away from the stem. They should also be watered daily for the first week and every couple of days after that, adjusting for rainfall.

Once your roses start growing they should be fertilized with a rose specific fertilizer every three months.

The roses should be pruned in early spring before new growth occurs in March. The link below has a good description of the pruning process.

Following these instructions should ensure enjoyment of your roses for many years to come.

A good guide for pruning your rose bushes is at http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0201/rose_pruning.asp
Neal and Cathy Klabunde are the owners of http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com a gardening website for gardeners of all skill levels.