How to Plant Roses

There’s nothing quite like walking into a rose garden in spring. Roses provide a beautiful atmosphere in your yard and garden. But before you can have great rose bushes in the spring, you have to get your hands dirty in the fall. Here is a guide on how to plant your roses and start building a beautiful garden.

To get started, you first have to buy your roses. You should buy roses as soon as you can before planting them. This should be early spring for warmer areas, and mid to late spring for colder areas. You should be fairly certain that there’s not going to be another freeze before you plant. While you may be tempted to order them from somewhere, it’s best to use roses grown in your local area. This way, you know this species is capable of thriving in your local conditions.

Next, you need to be sure to plant your roses in the proper location. Plant them in an area where they will get adequate amounts of sunlight, at least 6 hours a day. You also need to make sure your bush will have plenty of space. If there isn’t a lot of room in your chosen spot, choose a smaller type of bush. Once your spot is chosen, prepare the soil by mixing in compost or humus.

Now that you’ve gotten your roses and picked a spot, you’re ready to start digging. You want to make the hole you’re planting in about twice the size of your rose’s roots. This will allow the roots room to expand easily and grow strong once they are planted. If you’re planting bare rooted roses, be sure to dig your whole at least a foot wide to allow for future root growth.

You can now plant your rosebush! Place the rose in the hole, making sure to place it in the position you like best. You are now ready to refill the hole, but instead of replacing the old dirt add a mixture of compost and manure (heavy on the compost). This will make sure the bush has enough nutrients to take hold and survive.

The last thing you need to do is apply fertilizer (chemical or organic is fine) and water. Be sure to water regularly and fertilize every 6 weeks. This will help your bush grow healthy and strong.

 Gardening Tips from the Experts at Jackson & Perkins.