If you begin your rose garden design with a faulty foundation, then it probably won’t matter what you then do to try to grow healthy plants. Good soil helps roses get the best possible start. Begin with a deep, rich, well-drained loam, and then put a thick layer of compost, peat moss or other organic material over it. To this add three pounds of super-phosphate for every 100 square feet, to help the roses develop roots. Till all of this into the soil to about a foot in depth, and you’ll be on your way to creating the healthiest of rose gardens.
Place your rose bushes with space between them for growing wide and lush, with lots of flowers, rather than restricting them so they get spindly and tall. Grandifloras, floribundas and hybrid teas should be from 18 to 30 inches apart, while miniatures can be a foot apart. You might plant any of these somewhat closer together if you’re hoping to create a rose hedge, but if you want each bush to flourish alone, then more space is essential. The air circulation will also help to prevent the development of fungus in your roses.
There are different types of roses to plant, and the means of planting is different for each. Bare root plants come with roots and a few canes and no foliage. Plant these before any foliage begins to grow, taking care not to damage the roots. Once they are planted, place a cone of soil around them, about eight inches high, for two or three weeks to keep them moist until new growth starts. A container rose bush can be tipped out of its container and simply set into the soil. Peel the cardboard carefully away from boxed roses, and plant them the same as bare root plants.
The time for planting rose gardens varies depending on the plant, but you definitely have to wait until all danger of frost has passed. When it comes to bare root plants, you plant in the early spring, though other kinds of roses can be planted somewhat later. The main thing is to take the steps necessary to create the healthy garden, from preparing the soil and planting in a sunny spot, to feeding and rose pruning afterward. Take this extra care with your roses, and they should thrive all summer long.
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