No other flower can give a garden such beauty as the rose can and if you don’t already have roses in your garden it’s high time to get a few. There are roses available that thrive in just about any climate so don’t think that you can’t keep roses just because you leave in the far north. The first thing to do if you plan to plant roses in your garden is to choose the right planting site.

Planting site

Choosing the right location is very important as that will give you more hardy and disease resistant roses. You should preferable plants your roses in full sun but a darker spot is okay as long at it gets at least 6 hour of directly sunlight each day during the growth season. If you plant your roses darker than that you will get less hardy flowers that will grow sub optimally and that won’t give you the amount of flowers you would get if they got the sunlight they need. The spot you choose for your plants should also allow for air movement and should not force the rose to compete with other plants for nutrients and moisture. When you have chosen the planting spot it is time to buy the roses. Roses are available as bare root plants, which are cheaper but more sensitive, and in pots. Potted plants are easier to get to establish them selves in your garden and have higher survival rate. Different roses needs different spacing between them so make sure to find out the spacing you roses want and calculate how many roses you need for your plans.

Soil Preparation

Roses prefer well drained slightly acidic soil and if your soil doesn’t meet these criteria (test the soil pH) you will have to prepare the soil and make the necessary corrections to the soil. Almost all soils benefits from more organic matter in them and it is therefore recommended that you add some compost, peat moss, rotten manure or similar to the soil before planting your roses. This will improve the soils ability to retain nutrients as well as aeration and drainage.

Preparing the plant

Potted roses requires very little preparing before planting and can be left in the pot for a prolonged time as long as they are given basic care. Bare rooted plants on the other hand are quite sensitive and should be planted immediately after purchase. Start by unwrapping the plants and soaking them in water for an hour or two. If you are unable to plant bare rooted roses the same day as you buy them you should store them in a cool, dark and moist place. Always prune away dead and damaged parts of the roses, bare rooted or potted, before planting them.

Planting roses

Start by digging a hole in the ground that is about 15 inches deep and 20 inches wide. The roses should be place in the center of this hole: If you are planting a potted rose simple remove the pot and place the rose in the whole at a suitable depth. The rose should end up as such depth that the graft union, looks like a knob, ends up just above the surface. If you are planting a bare rooted rose you will need to create a little mound in the center of the hole that helps spread the rots in a natural cone like shape. When the rose is in place you should poor some water in the hole before you start filling it with the prepared soil. Be carefully when filling the whole not to damage the roots. Once the hole is filled you should water the plant to allow the earth to settle. It is possible that you will need to add some more soil after doing this.

Read more about roses and the symbolic meaning of rosesbefore deciding which rose is the right on for you and your garden.

Article by William Berg, author for the swedish gardening site tradgardsvaxter.com
 

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.