The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
15 Basic Ways To Landscape Your Homepage
In choosing a location for your roses remember they give better results when planted together in a bed by themselves. The coloring and forms of roses are not completely harmonious with other shrubs and flowers, Also you should keep in mind that roses grow best with a minimum half day of sunlight, especially during blooming season.
Hybrid tea roses should be spaced at least two and a half feet apart. If the particular variety you have purchased is a robust grower the separation should be in-creased Climbing roses which are growing on an average fence six feet high should be spaced eight to 10 feet apart. Plant polyan-thas from one and a half to two and a half feet apart. Your nurseryman can help to select the best varieties of roses for different needs and locations.
Soil preparation pays off in growing better roses. If possible, manure and bone meal should be worked into the soil several weeks in advance of planting. Most roses are best planted in a dormant, bare rod condition. When buying plants always insist on No. 1 stock, which is recognized by the three or more well developed canes above the bud union. (Drawings on page 59)
Roots should never be allowed to dry out and must be kept moist until actually planted. This is best done by heeling in (burying in damp soil) until planting time.
As you dig a hole for planting roses make it about twice as wide and deep as seems necessary for the roots. Use no fertilizer at this time. Shovel in a soil mixture of one quarter peat moss and three quarters top soil. Tamp down firmly at the bottom of the hole. Then add more soil mixture, building an inverted cone. Place the plant roots out evenly over the widest part of the cone. Make sure the bud union is near the ground level. Add more soil around the roots, firming with your feet until the hole is filled. Form a wide basin around the plant at the surface. Fill this basin with water two or three times until all the air pockets around the roots have been eliminated and filled with water.
Build your basin around the plant large enough so that it will not have to be disturbed or enlarged later.
All roses are heavy feeders and if they are to serve as star performers in your landscape a little extra attention will be rewarding. Roses should be fertilized when new growth is an inch or two long.
Feeding can be done by using one-half to three-fourths cup of balanced commercial fertilizer evenly distributed in the basin at least six inches from the trunk of each plant. Scratch the fertilizer into the ground with a hand cultivator. Then cover with a three-inch top dressing of well rotted manure. Water this topping well. Better results are obtained if no further cultivation is done lest tender feeder roots are injured or disturbed.
