DIY Network

Farmer Fred's Guide to Planting A Rose Rose planting tips include location, digging the hole and soil mix From "Dirt On Gardening" episode DDOG-105

Plant roses where they'll get plenty of sunlight.

Farmer Fred's Guide to Planting A Rose

Ever wonder what happened to all those bare root roses that you saw at the nursery last winter? Well, in the spring they've potted them up and they're in containers. They're now ready for sale and ready to be planted in your yard. But before you buy, consider what kind of a home a rose likes. As they say in the real estate business, the three most important things are "location, location, location." Here are some tips from DIY's Farmer Fred on where and how to plant a rose.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Planting Roses: Location Basics

• Roses need a lot of light--at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.
  
• Space them out about five to six feet apart.
  
• Avoid planting roses close to tree roots.

Digging the Hole and Checking for Drainage

Most important is the hole. According to Farmer Fred, "You want to dig a $20 hole for that $10 rose bush." Make that hole at least 20 inches wide and deep (figure A). The other important consideration is drainage. Dig your hole then, the day before you plant, fill that hole with water. In 24 hours, if that hole is empty, chances are good that you've selected a good place to plant a rose.

The Art of Planting A Rose

• How deep should you plant a rose? Let your shovel handle be your guide. Lay it across the hole and line it up with the bud union. The bud union is that bump between the roots and the cane (figure B). When you're planting the rose, you want the union about an inch above the shovel handle--unless you live in a colder climate. In areas of the country with colder winders you'll want it about an inch below the shovel handle.

• You'll want to get the roots established and have good drainage. For soil, use a mixture of 50 percent compost and 50 percent native soil. An easy way to do that is just alternate shovels full as you mix in a wheelbarrow (figure C).

• Tip: Once you get your rose home from the nursery, water it in the container the day before you plant it. That way it will come out of the container easily.

• Once the rose is free of the pot, loosen the roots with your fingers before putting the rose in the hole. Then simply place the root ball in the hole, then backfill with soil and compost (figure D). Your rose has now found a home.

• Give your new rose a feeding with a diluted fertilizer at about half rate.
  
• Add some mulch. That will keep it cool.
  
• Irrigate. In dry, hot weather you may have to water that rose every day.