Pretty Garden Tips

• Organic Gardening For Beginners
• Companion Planting Guide
• Seed Saving Tips & Techniques

Rose planting goes beyond how deep the hole should be and if fertilizer should be used now or later.  The initial step in rose planting, which should not be neglected, is the location of where the rose plant goes.  It is as true in planting as it is in real estate; location, location, location.  There are several things that need to be considered when choosing a location for our rose plants.

Does the place you have chosen have enough sunlight for your roses?  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 do not like soil that has too much clay or too much sand.  An easy test you can do to verify that if your soil has excessive clay or sand content is to clump it in your hand.  If the soil holds the mold and does not crumble easily, it has too much clay.  If the soil crumbles too easily and does not hold the mold, it has too much 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 finally, ask yourself this when rose planting: Is the place where you are going to plant your roses too close to trees or other plants?  There are many trees and other larger plants that will extract water and nutrients from the soil from roots that extend far beyond their drip line.  If you encounter a lot of roots where you are digging your hole for your rose bush, most likely these roots are going to cause a problem for your plant.  Some climbing roses and some shrubs are an exception, but most rose plants  only like to be combined with other roses or other non-invasive foliage.

After the selection of an ideal site for your rose plant, you can now think about the rose planting basics, like how deep the hole should be.  You will be required to dig a slightly larger hole than the root system of the plant or the size of the pot it is in.  The approximate depth depends upon the climate you are living in.  Colder areas need to plant their roses slightly deeper.  It is a good idea to talk to other rose growers in the area as to which is the proper depth for you.

Rose planting depths may be different for lots of different people but, everyone can benefit from loosening the soil at the bottom 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.  Fill up the hole and be sure the soil settles around the roots.  Watering the roots is essential before covering them with the final few inches of soil.  And finally place the last of the soil back into the hole and firm the soil slightly.  You can water the plant at this step also.

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Tags: rose planting