Now is the Time to Prepare A New
Rose Bed!
By Kris Kahn
November 2005
Fall is a great time to prepare a new rose
bed. The weather is cool and the soil
is usually easier to dig this time of year.
Preparing the soil now will also allow time
for the soil to settle before your roses are
planted in the spring. When preparing
a new garden, consider these three basic elements:
• Locate your garden in a superior
spot.
• Reserve quality plants to
meet your objectives.
• Prepare the soil to perfection.
To find a good location for your new garden,
look for a sunny spot away from trees, with
at least six hours of full sun. Choose
an area that drains well and has a convenient
water source nearby, since regular watering
is a must.
 Next
you will need to decide how many roses you
would like to have and what type of roses
you prefer. Do you want them for cutting,
color in the landscape or a long-blooming
hedge? Once you have decided what type
of roses you prefer you will need to plan
the size of your garden. If you are
interested in cut flowers you will probably
want Hybrid Tea or Grandiflora roses. They
need to be spaced 2 - 3 feet apart to allow
for good air circulation and access to the
flowers. In general 18-20 Hybrid Tea
roses will require 150-200 square feet of
space. If you choose shrub roses or
English roses spacing will vary depending
on the mature size of the plant. Look
for the size listed in the catalog or on the
label and space them accordingly, again remembering
to give them enough room for good air circulation.
When ordering your roses look for a reputable
rose source that sells high quality, grade
number one plants. A source that specializes
in roses will offer superior plants and be
able to give reliable advice. There are many
roses to choose from so do not be afraid to
ask questions while you are planning your
new garden.
A very important step when starting a new
rose garden is soil preparation. If
you have hard clay soil you are probably wondering
where to begin. Think soil amendments and
think lots of them! To create a rich,
loamy soil you will need composted cow manure,
soil conditioner, PermaTill®, lime and
bone meal. You can buy all of these
things at almost any independent garden center
or a good local rose specialist may be able
to provide a special rose planting mix.
Adding these ingredients to your soil will
make your soil drain well and give your new
roses a healthy start.
OK! You know how much space you need
and what to add to the soil, now how do you
figure out how much of these planting materials
you will need to till into the soil?
Probably the easiest way is to look at how
many roses you want to plant and purchase
the following amounts for every three bushes
- one 50# bag of well composted cow manure,
one 40 quart bag of soil conditioner, two
bags of PermaTill®, 3 cups of lime
and 3 cups of bone meal. Since you want
to give your new roses a good foundation you
do not want to skimp on materials. This is
an investment that will pay off in long lasting
plants and great blooms for many seasons to
come.
Mark off the planting area with stakes and
string if the shape is square, regular, or
geometric. If you are planning an irregular
bed with curving edges, you can buy surveyors
paint at a hardware store to mark the edges
or look in your kitchen for flour and pour
it into a large plastic bag with a corner
cut off to pour a line around the perimeter.
Now it’s time to get your hands dirty!
Using your newly marked lines as a guide dig
down 16 inches to loosen and turn over the
clay soil. Take your time and pace yourself.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day!”
After this is completed, broadcast the amendments
mentioned above over the top of your new bed.
Now you are ready to blend everything
into the loosened soil. A rototiller will
make mixing the amendments go a lot faster.
If you do not own a rototiller you can rent
one at a local hardware store or rent-a-center.
If you prefer to work with your hands and
get a good workout at the same time you could
use a good quality shovel and garden fork
to turn everything over and mix the materials
well. When you are finished, you should have
a light crumbly soil mix that is ready for
planting.
Congratulations for a job well done!
You have chosen a good location, you have
selected quality plants, and you have prepared
the soil to perfection. Now you can
pour yourself a nice, cool glass of iced tea
to sip, while you admire your hard work and
dream of planting your new roses in just a
few short months.
Kris Kahn works
at Witherspoon Rose Culture in Durham. The
number is 919.489.4446. |
November 2005: Now
is the Time to Prepare A New Rose Bed!
October 2005: The
Desert of Roxboro
September 2005: A
Container Gardening Revolution!
August 2005: Gardening,
the healthy, natural exercise!
July 2005: What
is so rare as a day in June?
June 2005: What's
Bugging You? |
