Planting Rose Bushes
Location
It is of utmost importance that the popular real estate saying be remembered when looking for a place for planting rose bushes. Location, location, location. Before you worry about the depth of the hole or what fertilizer to use, give serious consideration to some of the points mentioned below.
Sunlight
Unfiltered sunlight for periods ranging from 4 to 6 hours per day is a vital ingredient to the good health of a rose plant. Whether the rose plant is a sun loving plant or one that is shade tolerant, they both need sunlight. The vast majority of rose plants need six hours of direct sunlight to produce peak performance.
Soil Types
Nutritious soil is needed to quench the hunger of a healthy rose plant. Stay away from sandy or clay soil. By clumping the sand in your hand is a quick way for you to test if the soil has too much clay or sand. By not crumbling easily and holding the shape is good evidence that the soil has excessive clay. The opposite of this would take place if the soil is too sandy. What would happen is that the soil would crumble easily and refuse to mould. Good soil combines both of the attributes spoken about above. Good soil holds the mould in your hand but then crumbles easily. Soil containing too much acid, limestone or chalk must be avoided in all situations.
Stay away from
Planting your roses close to trees and other plants is not recommended. The trees and other larger plants will compete with the rose plant for the water and nutrients in the soil. The longer root system of trees and larger plants generally extended past the drip line allowing greater access. You will notice when digging a hole, if the root systems of nearby plants are in the way. Plant roses next to roses and keep invasive plants well clear of this area. An exception to this rule is some climbing roses and some shrubs.
Planting
After selecting the perfect location by adhering to the above information, you can now work out what size of hole you need to dig. Common sense will tell us that digging a hole that is a bit bigger than the pot the plant is in, so that the roots of the plant will comfortably sit inside it. The climatic area in which you live in will determine the depth of the hole. Colder areas need deeper holes for their rose plants. Discussing this with other rose plant growers may be the way to go. Regardless of the correct depth, loosening the soil at the bottom of the hole will give a boost to the rose plant you intend to plant. Sprinkling some compost and bone meal at the bottom of the hole, encourages healthy growth through the slow release of Phosphorus. Spread out the roots of the rose plant before planting. Make sure the soil settles around the roots when you refill the hole. Before tossing in the last couple of inches of soil, it is a good idea to water the roots. Firm up the soil around the rose plant after the final bit of soil has been used. Watering the plant again is your final step with planting roses.
