Advice
Rose planting
When to plant
The most suitable periods for bare-root plants are late autumn at leaf fall and late January to early March, before growth resumes in spring. Containerised roses can be planted all year round.
Preparation
If planting more than one rose, dig a trench 60cm (2ft) wide and the depth of a spade's blade. Place the excavated earth to one side. Fork over the subsoil and turn in half of the next strip, then mix in organic matter before completing digging of the second strip. Repeat across the bed, using soil from the first trench to fill the final trench.
For a single rose dig a hole roughly twice the width of plant's roots and the depth of a spade's blade. Improve the backfill with the addition of organic matter but do not add it as a layer at the bottom of the planting hole (see pic 1 above). Place the rose in the centre of the hole and, using a small cane to identify the top of the planting hole (see pic 2), ensure that the graft union (i.e where the cultivar joins the rootstock and the point from which the branches originate) is below soil level. Back fill gently with the excavated soil (3).
Organic matter
Preferably use well-rotted farm manure. Alternatively, well-rotted garden compost or leafmould, enriched with fish or seaweed meal at the rate of 100g per sq m (4oz per sq ft) run of trench.
Planting, spacing and aftercare
Ensure that the roots of bare-root plants are well spread out and set to their previous growing depth. Carefully tease out roots of container plants or they may be slow to establish and be more susceptible to drier conditions. Spacing depends on type and habit. Check catalogue or label details. If plants are unpruned, shorten back in early March, then apply rose fertiliser and mulch well.
Further information
The images above were taken from the RHS Practical Guide to Roses (price £4.99) published by Dorling Kindersley.
For suppliers of roses search the online RHS Plant Finder.
Search the RHS Event Finder for rose pruning demonstrations in your area.