How to Plant Container Roses
by Barb Jensen

Description: Easy tips for growing roses in containers.

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Roses come in two forms ready to plant: bare roots and container roses. Bare root roses have their roots exposed, allowing you to inspect them and are available in the fall and winter months. Container roses, as their name implies, are in some type of container and are available in the spring and summer months. They are usually bare root roses that didn't sell during the winter so they are placed in pots and sold as container roses.

If you buy container roses but don't plan on planting them for a while, that's okay. Just make sure you keep them well watered and they will be fine.

Roses like a neutral to slightly acid soil, a pH of around 6.5. The pH doesn't have to be exact, but if the soil is too far at either end of the scale, they won't survive. If you have never grown roses before in the spot where you plan to plant them, you might want to invest in a pH soil test kit, available at garden centers. If your soil is either too acid or too alkaline, there are ways to bring your soil to a more neutral pH.

Container roses are usually planted in the summer. Because they are used to being in a pot, it may take a while for the roots to spread out and find moisture in the ground. Therefore, it's necessary to keep a close eye on them and water them regularly for the first few months.

When you are ready to plant container roses, dig a hole larger than the ball of roots and deep enough to cover the union (part where the roots and stem meet).

Throw a handful of bonemeal into the hole before planting the rose. It's also a good idea to mix a handful of bonemeal into the dirt you took out of the hole.

To remove the rose from the container, while supporting the rose with one hand, tip the container upside down and squeeze the sides. If the rose doesn't come out you will have to cut the container. Don't water the rose just before planting. If you do, when you remove the rose the compost it's planted in won't stick to the roots.

Place the rose in the hole and while holding it straight, filll in the hole. Be sure to give it a generous drink of water after planting.

With the proper amount of water and fertilizer, your rose bush will give you beautiful blooms you can be proud of.

Barb Jensen lives in upstate New York where she enjoys both flower and vegetable gardening. http://freewebs.com/greenthumb1

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