How to Plant a Rose Bush

Roses have long been a traditional mainstay of the English garden and will give years of service with a little care and attention. Key to the success of a rose however is its initial planting and establishment which will now be considered.

Site Soil and Preparation for a Rose Shrub

Roses are suitable for a variety of soil conditions including heavy clays once established; despite this fact a little preparation will help a new plant to get off to a good start. If gardening on a heavy soil digging in some sharp sand and organic matter will aid the establishment of a good rooting system, too much sand however may lead to a soil depleted of nutrients.

Whilst Roses are hardy specimens a sunny site should be chosen which sees at least four hours of full sunlight each day. Excessively windy sites are also to be avoided as cold winds may damage plants and staking may be necessary to support new canes if a windy site is chosen. In addition when siting a rose it is often best to avoid locations in which roses have previously been planted; in some instances this can lead to the death of a young plant.

When and How to Plant a Rose Bush

The best time to plant a rose is a well debated subject; the BBC recommends bare roots specimens should be planted during the dormant period between December and mid-March. Non-bare root specimens on the other hand should be planted between October and early November. The key to timing would appear to be to avoid planting in frosty weather yet to get specimens into the ground before growth begins in earnest during the spring.

In planting a rose a sufficiently large hole should be dug to accommodate the entire spread of the root system whether a bare roots specimen or a container grown plant. The rose should then be planted with the union up to one inch below the surface. Once set in position it is recommended that the hole is back filled with a peat based soil mixed with plenty of bone meal. Bone meal will act as a long term fertilizer and aid the development of a healthy root system.

Another consideration is the use of containers; ordinarily roses are not suited to container growth due to the need for a large and deep root system. However if container growth is the only option there are two possible solutions: the first is to select a large container. In many cases a half barrel provides both an attractive feature whilst giving a rose enough room to spread its roots. Alternatively if less space is available a gardener may consider planting dwarf or patio varieties which have been bred especially to tolerate the restrictions of life in a container.