How to Plant Roses – Tips for Rose Planting
By Charlie Kaler
For someone venturing into growing roses, one of the first questions to ask is how to plant roses? And a wise question it would be because we should always start with the end in mind. And if the end we have in sight is an abundance of beautiful blooming roses, then the logical beginning is to learn about rose planting. That’s the first step of the journey.
Location, location, location!
Rose planting goes way beyond the depth of the hole and weather the fertilizer should be added now or later. Before any other consideration is the location you want for your rose plant. In fact it has been said that just as with real estate, the first consideration of a rose grower is; location, location, location.
Most species of rose ideally need 6 hours or more of direct unfiltered sunlight each day. Even the species of rose that are considered shade tolerant want at least 4 hours. So be sure to choose a location with adequate sunlight when rose planting.
How about the soil? Healthy nutrient rich soil is essential for a thriving rose plant. Soil that has too much sand or clay is nutrient deficient and far from ideal. A simple test is the ‘hand mold’ test. Clump the soil in your hands making a roughly spherical mold. If it does not easily crumble, it likely has too much clay. If it doesn’t hold its shape well and crumbles very easily it likely has too much sand. If it holds its shape well but also will crumble easily it’s probably a good soil for rose planting. Also, the soil must not have too much chalk or limestone or be too acidic.
Another consideration when choosing the location for rose planting is its proximity to other plants and trees. Many plants and trees have roots that extend beyond their drip line and will take nutrients and water from the soil as far as their roots reach. If the soil where you want to plant your roses is full of roots from other plants, this is likely to cause a problem for your roses.
Ideally, most roses prefer to mix only with other rose plants or other non-invasive plants, although some climbing roses are an exception to this rule.
Other Rose Planting Tips
As for digging the hole, it should be only slightly larger than the root system of the plant or the size of the pot it comes in. The hole depth depends somewhat on your climate. In general, colder climates require a slightly deeper hole. If possible it’s a good idea to speak with other rose growers in your area who have experience with growing and planting roses in your climate.
Another great tip is to loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole and place some compost and a sprinkling of bone meal in it. Bone meal is an excellent slow acting source of phosphorus, great for root growth.
Loosen the soil around the roots and use your fingers to slightly spread the roots. Place the plant in the hole and refill the hole. Water the roots before filling the last few inches of soil. Then fill the last of the hole, compact gently and water again.
Once you know how to plant roses, and even more so after you’ve had some experience, it really is easy. It just takes some knowledge, some practice and a bit of common sense for good measure. Rose planting has been the start of a very rewarding pastime for countless rose enthusiasts, now it’s your turn.
