Planting roses correctly: a step by step guide – Tree Finch

A rose lasts for years, so the planting should be well prepared. In addition to choosing the variety, soil preparation and the correct planting technique are essential. In this blog article we will show you what you should pay attention to!

1. Location

Roses like a sunny, airy location, although some varieties also thrive in light partial shade. Basically the rose should receive a few hours of direct sun per day. The soil should be permeable, loose and nutrient-rich. More clayey and humus-rich soils are best.

However, places where roses or members of the rose family have remained for a long time are not suitable. This includes all fruit trees and hedge plants such as cherry laurel, hawthorn and firethorn. There are also some representatives of wild and ornamental shrubs: these include the ornamental quince, the wild cherry, the blackthorn, but also the red plum, as well as all ornamental cherries and wild apple trees. In such areas the soil should be replaced at least 50 cm deep to avoid the so-called rosacea fatigue.

Soil preparation

Since roses have deep roots, the new bed should be loosened sufficiently deep. This can be done by digging or, for larger areas, by milling. If soil compaction occurs (e.g. due to construction machinery), it is absolutely necessary to loosen it. During this phase you can simultaneously remove associated growth, larger root residues or stones and, if necessary, add humus or sand.

planning

When designing your rose bed, you should also think in advance whether you want to create a pure rose bed or whether you want it to be enlivened with suitable companions such as lavender, sage, herbs or other suitable perennials.

2. Rose planting

When planting roses a distinction is made between two forms of tree delivery:

Bare root roses

These are outdoor products that are grown in the field and are offered as soilless plants or in pellets from the end of October to the end of April. (Here you can find a detailed overview of the advantages and disadvantages of outdoor and containerized goods.) This cheaper option is particularly suitable for large surfaces or larger quantities. The disadvantage, however, is that when sowing roses there are neither leaves nor flowers. Additionally, shoots and roots must be pruned.

Correct sowing time:

Since the plants do not have a root ball or potted root ball, the planting time is unfortunately limited to the dormant periods (late October – early April). If the soil is sufficiently moist, we recommend sowing at the beginning of autumn, as the roses will then have the opportunity to form their first roots in the still warm soil.

Preparation of plants:

Before planting, the roots of the rose are shortened to approximately 20 – 30 cm. You should remove very weak and broken shoots from above-ground shoots. Strong shoots are cut back to approx. 5 to 7 shoots. The rose is then placed in a bucket of water for several hours to ensure it is well hydrated. If you plant the rose in spring, the aboveground part should also receive water, since the plants have usually overwintered in cold storage and therefore need a lot of water.

Plantation:

The planting hole is dug to a depth of approx. 40 cm, the excavation is well reduced and the bottom of the planting hole is well loosened. The rose is then placed in the planting hole in such a way that the roots are not pressed, compressed or crushed. The finishing area should be at least 5 – 10 cm Under be the earth’s surface. This means that your rose is adequately protected from frost or dehydration. It is therefore possible to omit further pilings.

The loose excavation is then slowly and carefully distributed around the root and tamped down lightly with a spade or your hands. However, compression should not occur. The squad is aligned accordingly. The rose should then be watered with the watering can. The last small cavities are closed and the planting hole is sufficiently watered to begin. The first fertilization with organic fertilizers occurs only in spring.

Roses in vases or containers

Container roses are more expensive than bare root plants, but they can be purchased and planted almost year-round. Container roses can be a good choice, especially if you have a clear idea of ​​what the roses will look like, because you can buy them when they are in bloom and therefore better coordinate the plants with each other.

Best sowing time

Basically, you can plant roses in pots or containers all year round. The exception is obviously the frost phase, when the ground is frozen. However, our advice is to plant in early summer (late May – mid July, or after the end of the heat phase and the holiday season. This way the roses can continue to grow perfectly in the warm soil and form new roots. If the roses have been watered well, watering is limited and the plants still benefit from the fertilizer in the root ball.

Preparation of plants

Pruning is not necessary for container roses. Only broken shoots and foliage above the grafting point are removed, since after planting they lie in the ground and may rot. The bale with the pot is then immersed in a bucket of water until no more air bubbles appear in order to water the plant well. If the root ball is very dull, you should cut the roots slightly with a knife.

plant

In principle, a container rose is planted in the same way as a bare root plant. Only the necessary hole size may be slightly larger due to the volume of the pot or container. The plants should therefore be watered regularly to prevent the soil ball from drying out. Fertilization in the first year can usually be avoided since container substrates are usually sufficiently pre-fertilized.

3. Care, mulching, etc.

Accordingly, planted roses should be watered regularly and appropriately. A light layer of mulch with special rose mulch helps the soil dry out and also keeps unwanted vegetation away. In spring we then proceed with sowing with an initial fertilization with organic fertilizer. We have written a separate blog article here with all the important information on how to properly care for roses, including rose pruning.

Are there still questions left unanswered? Then contact us!

Happy gardening! 🙂