Things To Keep In Mind When Rose Planting
Rose planting goes beyond how deep the hole should be and if fertilizer should be used now or later. The initial step in rose planting, which should not be neglected, is the location of where the rose plant goes. It is as true in planting as it is in real estate; location, location, location. There are several things that need to be considered when choosing a location for our rose plants.
Does the place you have chosen have enough sunlight for your roses? The majority of rose species should have at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight a day. Even shade tolerant rose plants need about four to six hours of direct sunlight to be healthy.
Another important question to ask in rose planting: Is the soil where you want to plant your roses healthy enough? Roses need nutritious soil and are hungry eaters. They do not like soil that has too much clay or too much sand. An easy test you can do to verify that if your soil has excessive clay or sand content is to clump it in your hand. If the soil holds the mold and does not crumble easily, it has too much clay. If the soil easily crumbles and does not hold the form, it has a lot of sand. Good soil should crumble easily but hold the mold as well. Also, the soil must not be too acidic, contain too much chalk or contain too much limestone.
And lastly, ask yourself this when rose planting: Is the location you are going to plant your roses at in close proximity to other plants or trees? There are many trees and other larger plants that will extract water and nutrients from the soil from roots that extend far beyond their drip line. If you see a lot of roots upon digging the hole for your rose bush, it will most likely mean trouble for your plant. Some climbing roses and some shrubs are an exception, but most rose plants only like to be combined with other roses or other non-invasive foliage.
Now that you have the perfect location for your rose plant, you can think about the basics in rose planting such as how deep the hole should be. You will need to dig a hole that is slightly larger than the size of the pot the plant is in or root system of the plant. The depth of the hole depends on the climate that you live in. Colder areas need to plant their roses slightly deeper. It is suggested that you consult other rose gardeners in the area as to which is the correct depth for your plant.
Rose planting depths may be different for lots of different people but, everyone can benefit from loosening the soil at the bottom of the hole. You can also place some compost in the bottom of the hole plus a sprinkle of bone meal which is a source of Phosphorus and is slow acting and encourages healthy root growth. The roots must be spread out slightly after placing the plant into the hole. Fill up the hole and be sure the soil settles around the roots. Watering the roots is essential before covering them with the final few inches of soil. And finally place the last of the soil back into the hole and firm the soil slightly. You can also water the plant at this stage.