Munstead Wood
April 27, 2017
Are you thinking about adding some new roses this spring? Did you have a couple that didn’t make it through the winter? Taking the time to properly plan and prepare your rose garden will reward you with rich, sumptuous blooms year after year. Roses prefer a rich, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic (pH between 6.0 – 6.5). Roses are very tolerant of different soil conditions, but will thrive in garden soil that is improved with ample amounts of organic matter, such as compost, peat moss or aged animal manures. They like plenty of water and sun — at least 6 to 8 hours — and grow best when protected from harsh wind and cold. You should be mindful of the size and shape you will need. Taller roses in the back of the bed and shorter ones in the front. Consider giving your roses plenty of room. Don’t plant them too closely together. Giving them space will allow air to circulate and will protect them from plant diseases that thrive on moisture.
You need to consider the hardiness by zone to ensure that your plants will survive our winter temperature. We are growing zone 6 a. If you buy a rose that is only hardy to zone 7, it probably won’t survive. Wenke Greenhouses only sells roses that are rated for our growing zone. You should also consider disease resistance and repeat blooming as well as fragrance and color.
When planting your new rose, be sure to shake off the planting medium that it comes in. The plant needs to be in the soil that it is going to be growing in. You should amend the dirt that you put back in the hole with a shovel of composted cow manure into the bottom near the roots. Make your hole twice as big as the container and a little deeper. After you have planted the rose, please water it in with a slow running hose for about 15 minutes.
Click here to read more about Larry’s recommended rose care schedule.Want to learn more about roses? Please join me for my upcoming class on May 4th,
Beginner’s guide to Roses at 6pm. We are also expecting our first shipment of roses that week so will have an amazing selection for you to choose from at that time.
As always, you can reach me at larrytheroseguy@gmail.com with any questions about your roses. I am always happy to answer your questions.
