5 Steps to Plant Container Roses
Welcome back to Rose Friday. We hope you had a wonderful 4th of July. Rose Friday is our weekly series where we discuss how to care for roses. Last week we talked how to plant bare root roses in 7 Steps to Planting Bare-Root Roses.
Are you trying to plant container roses?
On this hot summer Friday, we are taking a close look at how to plant container roses and we are going to show you how to plant container roses in just 5 steps.
- Step 1
First things first, are to find the perfect home. Once you have located where you want your container roses, you will want to start digging the hole. According to All-America Rose Selections, you will want to pick out a pot with drainage holes that is the depth of the container and 18 inches wide or dig a hole that have the same dimensions. - Step 2
Take notice where the root ball is and make sure to loosen the surrounding soil. To prevent what is known as “root bound” the All-America Rose Selections says:“As plants grow tall, their roots get long as well. If the plant is in a small pot, the roots can get bound up in a ball and prevent the plant from reaching its true potential. Repotting is the perfect time to resolve this. If your rose is “rootbound”, score it by making vertical cuts with a sharp knife. Open the scores about an inch to allow roots to form.”
- Step 3
Put the rosebush in the middle of the pot or hole and fill the hole in with the surrounding soil. You do not want to leave any air pockets so use your hands in work in the soil around the roots - Step 4
Now it is time to water. A GREAT TIP: Roses by James Underwood Crockett and the Editors of TIME-LIFE BOOKS, tell us to take 2 inches of mulch or specifically coarse peat moss around the top part of the rosebush. - Step 5
Install Rootsticks. The Rootstick will help to flourish your rosebush by providing oxygen, nutrients and water the root zone.
With these 5 steps, you are ready to start planting your container roses. Come back next week as we discuss pruning and some helpful tips and tricks for caring for your rose garden.