Planting Roses by Pop Walker

by Kateryna

2 Materials

Easy

“Easy as” Dig a hole - Put the rose in - Shovel the soil back in.

RIGHT?

WRONG!

Right in part. It may grow as roses are remarkable survivors. I have seen them endure some appalling treatment. However why would you take that risk on your new purchase.

So, lets break it down.

The Hole

We dig holes fit for purpose e.g. a fence post, a hangi pit, a plant etc.

• A bush rose is budded to an understock. It is easy to see where the bush itself has sprouted from this stock (bud union).

• Plant it so the bush union is level with the ground

• Plant a standard rose about five centimetres deeper than it was planted in the nursery.

• Changes in the bark (just above the roots) signal this depth. This extra depth helps to stabilise the standard in your garden.

With this in mind:

1. Dig the hole oversized. Say ten centimetres wider all round, and ten centimetres deeper.

2. Put a solid layer of fertile loamy soil in the bottom

3. Put in the rose and fill the hole with more good soil

4. Jiggle the rose so the soil filters through the roots and eliminates any air pockets.

5. Firm the soil with a solid foot stamping

6. But do not plant if the soil is soggy wet

Reasons to do this:

• Roses do not thrive in soil other roses have grown in. This gives them fresh ground.

• If planted loosely air pockets can persist, the rose roots sit in an aerated state. Often (even in winter) they dry out, shrivel and die. Firming the soil is essential.

• Planting any plants in soggy soil, then firming it, turns it into a brick like state. This ruins a soils crumb structure which is required for healthy soil/root aeration and moisture movement. Destruction of soil structure sets up ideal conditions for (anaerobic) soil diseases e.g. Phytophora, which attacks the plants new vulnerable roots. The plant cannot draw up water, its leaves turn yellow and droop.

• Don’t grab the hose and water it as you will assist a faster death. Just let it dry out a little and ask for a drench from a garden shop which will help its roots.

Other Rose Planting Tips

Imagine putting your tongue into a bowl of salt for a week or two! Well it is like this for a rose if you:

Put fertilizer directly on the roots of roses when you plant them. Put horse manure into the hole – this will burn the new roots; the plant will go yellow and die.

• Always sprinkle fertilizer over the top of the soil after planting and let it percolate down.

• There are specific fertilizers you can put in the hole such as plant tablets and slow release osmocote but you need to be sure about them.

Holes in clay (heavy) and light soil:

• Always run the edge of the spade down the sides of the hole in heavy soil to break up any glazing. Glazing occurs when the soil is wet when spade pressure compacts and smooths the sides of the hole, similar to glazed pottery.

• In glazed holes roots take the least line of resistance and spin in circles. This prevents them from wider access to moisture and fertilizer from the surrounding soil.

• It is like putting plants into a bucket. It dries out in summer and fills with water in winter.

• Sprinkle gypsum in rose gardens with heavy soil conditions; it opens the soil up by stimulating a crumb structure.

• For both heavy and light soil; shovel a layer of well broken-down compost or potting mix around the plants (mulch). This retains soil moisture, provides a steady supply of nutrients, makes weeding easy and is great for a healthy soil structure. The worms will love you!!

The miracle is:

Most of these rules get broken; yet the rose still rewards you with its heavenly scent and stunning beauty.