Planting Rose Bushes

Planting rose bushes without wondering-- is this right? Hurray!Print and take this how to with pics into the garden. Your roses will love your green garden smarts and bloom, bloom, bloom!

STEP 1 - It’s All About Location!

Planting rose bushes starts with picking a great location. This means a sunny spot. Ideally, your rose will get 6 hours of sun. Roses love morning sun.

If you live in a very hot zone pick a location where a tree or some structure provides protection from the afternoon's blazing hot rays. Roses do not stand-up well to temperatures around and above 100 degrees.

STEP 2 - Digging-In

This is the Planting Rose Bushes Tough Love step- Digging a deep hole is not always easy, that is for sure.

For most roses you need a hole about 18 inches deep and 30 inches wide. "Ugh" you say. I understand. But here is the nasty truth, better a 2 bit rose than a 2 bit hole. For more about Digging In...

STEP 3 - File the Hole with Water and Let it Drain Out

Make sure the water drains out of whole within an hour. (This is an excellent time to take a break and have some pink Champagne cake!) For more about Drainage...

STEP 4 - Toss in 1/2 Cup of Bone Meal

Planting Rose Bushes- Bone meal is an excellent source of phosphate. Phosphate helps establish vigorous roots.


Mix it in to the loose soil at the bottom of the hole with some water.

STEP 5 - Put Some Compost Enriched Soil Back in the Hole

Planting Rose Bushes- Put some compost enriched soil back in the hole and make a mound in the center of the whole.

"What!" You just took all the dirt out and now your suppose to put dirt back in. Yes, but this time mix some of the dirt you dug out with compost (50-50 split).

A rich compost will help your rose grow a wonderful root system that will ensure you have buckets of blooms.

There are an assortment of special sauce compost and fertilizer recipes gardeners swear by. Basically, they include some organic matter (e.g., aged horse manure and loam or lose soil and decomposed organic matter like hay) and some alfalfa meal with a dash of Epsom salts.

STEP 6 - Place the Rose on Top of The Mound

In the center of your hole form a cone shaped mound of this super rich special lose soil.

On the sides of the mound drape the rose's roots. While you keep the rose in its place, gently file the whole with soil and supper special soil which should be mixed together at about a 50/50 split.

Your rose bud union should be a few inches above the soil if you live in warmer Zones with year round temperate climates. In colder zones, you will need to plant the bud union under grounds.

Tap down the soil with your hands not your feet. You don't want to compact the soil to the degree it makes it difficult for water to move through the soil.

STEP 7 - Water Your Rose

Check-on your rose regularly, especially for the first few weeks, and make sure you keep the soil moist, at least for the first several weeks. Once your rose bush is established you can water less frequently.

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