Regional Growing Guide: Mid-Atlantic

Planting Roses

Choose a spot in full sun -- at least 6 hours per day. Roses require as much sun as you can provide and a bit of pampering, which begins at planting time. Ideally, you'll have prepared the garden bed by amending the soil with compost. At the very least, plan to add some compost to the hole at planting time. In heavy clay soil consider planting roses in raised beds using a mix of potting soil and compost in the hole. Also, it's a good idea to have your soil tested before planting; if soil test results show the soil is low in phosphorous, you'll want to add a handful of high phosphate fertilizer to the planting hole.

Roses are available as either container-grown stock or as bare-root plants; following are instructions on planting both types.

Planting Bare-Root Roses
Bare-root plants are available during the dormant season and are the most economical way to plant roses. The roses you see boxed up or wrapped in plastic are bare-root -- the roots are packed in moist sawdust or shredded newspaper. Roses ordered by mail will arrive bare-root. Some experts believe that bare-root stock acclimates to particular soil conditions better than roses planted from container stock.

When planting a bare-root rose, begin by unwrapping the plant and soaking the roots in water for several hours. While it's soaking, dig a deep hole -- at least 18 inches deep and 18 inches wide. Amend the soil you removed from the hole with compost; then build a cone of this soil in the bottom of the hole. Remove the rose from the water, trim any damaged or extra long roots, then place the plant in the hole, draping the roots around the soil cone you made in the center. Position the plant so the graft (the swelling between the roots and the cane) sits at or just above ground level.

Add some soil to support the roots, then add more soil, firming it over the roots. When the hole is half full, fill it with water. Let it soak in, then fill in the rest of the soil, then water well.

Once the rose is in place, after planting apply an organic mulch such as fir bark compost. Prune off any damaged or crossing canes, and you're done.

Planting Container Roses
When planting container-grown roses, dig a hole at least 18 inches deep and wide. You will not need to build the soil cone at the bottom of the hole. Check the plant for damaged canes and prune them. Make sure the soil ball is moist throughout; if it isn't, soak it for a few hours. Then gently tip the plant from the pot, trying not to disturb the roots. Set the plant inside the prepared hole and check the level of the plant. Remember, you want the bud union at or just above ground level. Adjust the soil in the hole if necessary. Fill in with soil and tamp it down with your hands as you fill the hole so the roots are supported snugly in the new site. Water once when the hole is half filled, and again when you are done planting. Once the plant is in place, mulch the area around the plant.

Transplanting Roses

Do you need to move a rose bush, or transplate a rose from one spot to another for some other reason? Perhaps you are rescuing a rose that would be harmed by a building or landscaping project, for example. If so, here are some techniques. Note that the best time of year to transplant roses is late winter or early spring. Try to transplant before the leaf buds break, but after the harshest cold of winter has passed.

1. If possible, prepare the planting hole in advance.
2. Dig up the rose bush on a cloudy, cool day. Or, dig it in the early morning or evening when the weather is cool.
3. Dig up as large a rootball as you can manage, and place the plant in a container or wrap it in a tarp. It's important that the delicate feeder roots don't dry out. Trim foliage to make a compact plant.
4. Water the plant thoroughly. You want the rootball to be completely moist. If you won't be planting it right away, store it in a cool, shady spot.
5. Prepare the planting hole. Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the container, but only as deep. This will give the plant lots of easy-to-navigate space to extend its roots horizontally. However, digging a hole too deep can cause the plant to settle too much.
6. Fill hole half-full with water and let it soak in. You want to make sure the surrounding soil is moist, too.
7. Trim any extra long roots.
8. Set the plant in the hole so it sits at the same height or just slightly higher than it was in its original location.
9. Refill the hole halfway, incorporating up to 25 percent compost into the backfill soil. Water thoroughly.
10. Fill in the rest of the hole with soil, then form a donut-shaped berm at the outer edges of the hole, to hold water.
11. Water to fill the berm two more times to thoroughly saturate the refilled soil.
12. If the weather is hot and dry, provide shade from noon until dusk for one week or until leaves stay perked up all day long.
13. Fill the berm with water each day over the next several days.
14. Water the plant weekly if nature doesn't provide, and observe the plant daily for signs of wilting or insect or disease problems.
15. Add an organic mulch, such as bark chips, to help hold in moisture, keeping the mulch a few inches from the rose canes.