Transcript Planting Your Rose

Planting Your Rose
Linda Krontz Schuppener
770-489-4865
[email protected]
When do I plant?
Late winter is the ideal time for planting
bare root roses;
Early spring is ideal for planting potted
roses.
But you can plant whenever you need to,
as long as the ground isn't frozen.
Where do I plant?
First, pick a good home
for your new rose. It will
need the following:
Lots of sun
Good air circulation
Good drainage
Good soil
Place to grow without root
competition from trees &
shrubs
At least 6 hours of sun,
especially morning sun is
preferred
What kind of soil does it need?
Have the soil tested in your rose's new
home
Roses grow best in soil with a pH of about
6.5, while our native soil (if you can call
what most of us have "soil") is closer to
5.0.
When the pH is too far from the ideal, the
plant cannot absorb minerals from the soil.
What kind of soil does it need?
The UGA Extension Service in your county
provides these tests at minimal cost ($4.50).
You'll get your results much sooner if you do the
test in fall or winter. March and April are peak
season.
This test will give you not only the pH of your
soil, but also information on other nutrient needs
of your soil.
What kind of bed do they need?
If you are building a whole rose bed, plan to
allow enough room to space bushes at least 4
feet apart, depending on their ultimate size.
Minis may be 2 – 3 feet apart, but
Shrubs may need to be 6 feet or more apart.
Roses can also be grown in pots, but will need
at least a 5-gallon pot for minis to thrive, and a
15-gallon pot for hybrid teas.
What do I put in the bed?
To plant your rose, start with a big hole,
approximately 2 feet across and 18 – 24 inches
deep for one rose.
To the soil from the hole (presumably clay), add
equal amounts of organic material (composted
pine bark, humus, or manure, but not peat moss)
and coarse (builders) sand.
Depending on the results of your soil test, you
may need to add dolomitic lime to adjust the soil
pH, or super phosphate to adjust the
phosphorus level.
What do I put in the bed?
These amendments should be mixed with the planting
soil for best effect, along with ¼ cup Epsom salts.
Never add a fast-release nitrogen fertilizer when
planting, as it can burn tender new roots; however, you
may add a time-release fertilizer like Osmocote.
Many rosarians like to add an organic product like Mills
Magic Rose Mix.
Combine soil and amendments well, mix to the
consistency of coffee grounds, and return half to the
hole.
Placing it in the bed?
In the Atlanta area the bud union, the
knobby part that all the canes grow from
on a grafted rose, should be just above the
final dirt level, rather than buried (as is
common in cold climates) or several
inches above the ground (as it is probably
growing in the pot you buy it in).
Directions for Planting Bare-Root &
Potted Roses
For a bare-root rose
– Soak the rose for several hours or overnight, to
rehydrate the bush before planting.
– Some people like to add a little bleach to kill fungi, or
to use a root stimulator as part of the water they soak
with.
– Trim off broken or unhealthy-looking roots, and trim
damaged canes.
– Prepare soil as discussed above, then mound a cone
of dirt in the center of the hole, with the peak at
ground level.
– Spread the roots of the plant over the cone.
Planting
For a potted rose
– Cut away the pot, holding the plant by the root ball,
rather than by the trunk or branches.
– Alternatively, put your open hand in the pot and turn
the pot upside down, holding the root ball in your
open hand while removing the root ball from the pot.
– If the rose is root bound, loosen and spread the roots
so they can grow into the surrounding soil easily.
– Place the root ball on loose dirt so the top of the pot's
soil is about 3 inches above ground level.
After Planting Bare Root or Potted Roses
Add remaining soil over the roots & around the
hole to make a mound 5 inches or more above
the previous ground level for the rose.
Tap the soil down (with your hands, not your
feet!) & water well to eliminate air spaces and
ensure good root contact with the soil.
Add an organic mulch over the soil – three
inches of shredded leaves, bark, or pine straw
will do fine – to protect the roots from
temperature extremes & to keep the soil from
drying out in the sun and wind.
Planting Examples
Taking Care of Your New Rose
It will need regular watering, at least 1 – 2 inches (2 – 4
gallons) a week, for the first year after you plant it,
especially through dry spells in the summer, and before
freezing weather in winter. Drying out is the worst
enemy of a new rose, whenever it's being planted.
If weather is still cold when you plant, or further cold
spells are expected, you need to protect the rose from
cold, drying air.
Mound additional mulch or soil over the canes.
This can be gently pulled away when the
weather finally gets and stays warm.
Then just wait for those beautiful blooms
you've been dreaming about!