Rose Bush Planting Secrets Even Your Mum Won't Tell You

Rose bush planting requires much more than merely digging a hole and adding fertilizer.

As with most things in life, location is of utmost importance when planting your roses & just as location may dictate success in real estate, where you decide to plant may make the difference between success and failure.

While searching for a suitable location for your rose bush planting is important, there are a number of aspects to consider.

Let There Be Light

Sunlight is vital to flourishing roses, so make sure the location you choose gets ample amounts. Almost all species of roses require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight on a daily basis.

Even those that are able to survive in shady areas should have between four and six hours.

Nutrients

Your roses should be planted in nutrient rich soil.

Soil with clay or sand will not allow these beautiful plants to consume all that they need to flourish. When rose planting , you’ll need to determine if your soil contains too much sand or clay.

To do this, simply compact a handful and observe how easily it crumbles.  Any soil that does not break apart to the touch contains levels of clay not suitable for planting roses.

Crumbling too easily is a sure sign that there are high levels of sand, which is also detrimental to your plant. Healthy soil will firmly hold the mould but crumble with minimal effort when touched.  The soil should not contain high levels of chalk, limestone, or be too acidic.

The proximity of your roses to trees or other plants also plays a role in their growth and well being & this is another issue to consider when rose bush planting.

Most trees, and even some other plants have root systems that extend well beyond their drip line and can deplete water and nutrients from your roses. You may wish to consider an alternate location if you encounter a large amount of roots while digging at your chosen planting site.

How Deep?

While there are a small number of rose plants that are an exception, the majority will only tolerate being intertwined with other roses or another non-invasive species of plants. Once this has all been accounted for, it is time to consider how deep to dig the hole.

The depth of the hole is another important issue when rose bush planting. It must have a slightly greater depth and diameter than the root system of the plant.

Those who live in colder regions must plant their roses a little bit deeper than those located in warm areas. You may benefit by discussing planting depths with local rose growers.  No matter how deep you plant your rose bushes, loosening the soil at the bottom of the hole will greatly benefit your plant.

Depositing compost and bone meal, a slow acting source of phosphorus, will encourage strong growth of the root system.

After placing your new plant within the hole, make sure to slightly spread the roots out. Fill the remainder of the hole with soil, ensuring that all of the roots are covered. Before covering the last remaining inches of roots, soak them with water.

Fill in the hole with what is left of the soil and gently pat to finish.  You may wish to water your new plant at this stage as well.

So there you have it... rose bush planting 101.