Successful Rose Growing Starts with Correct Planting
Planting your roses - start off right for the greatest success.
Very early spring, when forsythia is golden with bloom, the soil has thawed and the air is still cool, is the time to put in your roses. And the earlier this is done the better. (However, if you buy rose bushes which are growing in containers, you can safely plant them much later or at any time the soil can be worked.) Roses, which are not as demanding as many plants, will grow in any soil that has shown itself good enough for raising flowers or vegetables and is not crowded with roots from nearby trees.
Six hours of sunlight is all they need. The bushes should be spaced a foot and a half apart. With these points in mind, you can select the best spot in your garden for the roses.
Planting them is not at all hard, but if possible, to make the job simpler, have someone help you by holding the bush while you fill in the soil around it. First, dig a hole large enough to give the roots plenty of room, probably about 15 inches across and 12 inches deep. Now inspect the rose bush; if any roots are broken, cut them off just above the injured portion. At the base of the canes look for a knobby swelling. This, called the bud union, is the spot where the two individual rose plants making up your rose are joined: a wild rose is used for its vigorous root system and is topped by the particular variety that you desired. The rose bush should be planted so that this bud union is at, or just barely below, the level of the soil around it. The easy way to find the right planting depth is to line up the bud union with a tool handle that has been laid over the hole as in step 1, below.
Now, in the bottom of the hole build up a cone of soil that will raise the rose bush to the correct height, and on it place the rose. Spread the roots down the sides of the cone and, while holding the bush straight, fill in the hole about three quarters with soil. Carefully tramp down the soil around the bush and then thoroughly soak the area with a few bucketfuls of water. When the water has completely drained away, finish filling the hole, keeping soil loose.
To keep the bush from drying out while it is establishing itself, bank up the soil around it. In a few weeks this can be removed. Since the bushes were pruned by the nurseryman before you bought them, it is not necessary to prune them now except to remove dead or broken canes. Soon, when the weather warms and the bush has taken hold, its buds will swell and burst forth with new foliage and by late spring your rose will be blooming.
Follow the five planting steps:
1. Dig hole large enough to give roots ample room. Lay rake handle over hole to show soil level at center of hole. To find proper planting depth, suspend bush in hole with bud union at or just below rake handle.
2. Make a mound of soil in the bottom of the planting hole that is of proper height to support bush at position determined in step 1. Inspect the roots and cut off broken ones. Place bush on mound; spread roots out.
3. Holding bush in proper position, fill in around it with good, friable garden loam. After hole is three-quarters filled, carefully tramp down soil on all sides of the bush. It is important that bush be planted firmly.
4. Be sure that the bud union is still at, or just below, level of surrounding soil and has not been carried deeper by tramping. Fill the hole with water, soaking all the soil in the area of the roots thoroughly.
5. After water has completely drained away, fill in hole with loose soil. Do not firm. If planting in spring, hill up soil around bush temporarily to keep bush from drying: in winter leave hilled soil for protection.
Comments
this has been very help to me.iam starting a rose garden. thanks.
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