Essential Survival Gear Catalog

Rose planting is more than just the depth of the hole and when fertilizer should be used.  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 many things to be considered upon selecting the location for our rose plants.

Will the place you choose to plant your roses get enough sunlight?  Most rose species should receive direct, unfiltered sunlight each day for at least six hours.  Even rose plants that are shade tolerant need about four to six hours of direct sunlight to do well. 

Another important question to ask in rose planting: Is the soil where you want to plant your roses healthy enough?  Roses are hungry eaters and need to have nutritious soil.  They dislike soil that has high clay or sand content.  A quick test you can do with your soil to find out if it has too much clay or sand is to clump it in your hand.  If the soil holds the form and does not easily crumble, it has high clay content.  If the soil crumbles too easily and does not hold the mold, it has too much 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 finally, ask yourself this when rose planting: Is the place where you are going to plant your roses too close to trees or other plants?  There are a lot of larger plants and trees that extract water and nutrients from the soil from their roots that go past 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.

After the selection of an ideal site for your rose plant, you can now think about the rose planting basics, like 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 places need to plant their roses a little 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 vary for many people but everyone can gain something by loosening the soil at the base 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.  Refill the hole and make sure that the soil settles around the roots.  Water the roots before you cover them with the last couple of inches of soil.  And finally place the last of the soil back into the hole and firm the soil slightly.  You can water the plant at this step also.