Rose Planting Guide
Rose plants need fertilizing. They need to be in the right depth of hole, but above anything else, the beautiful rose needs to be in the optimum place to get nourished and continue to flower. There are a number of elements to planting roses that we need to consider.
Sunlight
If a rose flower doesn’t receive the right amount of sunlight it will struggle to stay alive. The majority of roses need to have at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight a day. Even roses that are tolerant of the shade need between four to six hours of direct sunlight to do well.
Soil
It’s no good planting your roses in soil that has too much clay or too much sand. If you clump some soil in your hand and it holds the mold and doesn’t crumble then it has too much clay. If the soil crumbles easily and doesn’t hold the mold then it has too much sand. The soil you are looking for should hold the mold and crumble easily. Roses hate soil which has too much limestone and chalk or is too acidic.
Location
You need to make sure your rose flower isn’t too close to trees or other plants. The roots of larger trees and plants extend far beyond their drip line and as a result will steal all the nutrients and water in the soil your rose will need to survive. If you see roots in the soil when digging the hole for your rose, it will cause significant problems. However, 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 non-invasive plants.
Once you have the perfect location for your rose, you can start thinking about the basics, such as how deep the hole should be. The hole should be slightly larger than the size of the pot the rose plant is in, or root system of the rose. The depth of the hole depends on the climate you live in. If you live in a colder area, the roses need to be planted deeper in the soil, like a coat protecting from the cold. Getting the advice of other rose growers in your area is a good way to establish the right depth you need. Depths will vary for everyone in different parts of the world. However everyone can benefit from loosening the soil at the bottom of the hole which will make it easier for the flower’s roots to stretch out.
Roots
To encourage the root growth of your rose, you can place compost in the bottom of the hole plus a sprinkle of bone meal, a source of phosphorus, which is slow acting and encourages healthy root growth.
Once you have placed the rose into the hole, spread out the roots slightly, refill the hole and make sure the soil settles around the roots. Before you cover them with the last couple of inches of soil, water them and finally place the last of the soil back into the hole and firm the soil slightly. The rose you have cared so much for will be the pride of your flower filled garden.
