Winter is the season for planting roses. On the whole, roses are quite robust and durable plants. Take a little care at planting time and your rose bushes will give you years of pleasure.
Position
Roses need plenty of sun - six hours a day to really thrive - so select a sunny spot. If you have a choice between morning sun and afternoon sun, choose the spot that is sunny in the morning. The position also needs to be well-drained.
Soil
Roses like soils that are a little acid (6.5 is best) so a pH test is a good idea. (You can buy an easy-to-use soil testing kit from the Global Garden Shop.)
Roses prefer a rich loam to which compost, cow manure or other organic matter has been added and do well in areas where there is a clay subsoil.
Types of Plants
Roses can be bought as container plants in any season. Buying roses this way means you are able to purchase the plant in bloom so that you know exactly what you are getting. In winter there are many roses available as bare-rooted plants. These are less expensive and much easier to manage.
Planting
Soak bare-rooted roses in water for an hour or so before planting. Dig a hole that is more than adequate to fit the roots in comfortably. Make a mound of soil in the bottom of the hole and spread the roots over the sides. Half fill the hole with soil and then water well and let the water drain away. Fill in the rest of the hole making sure that the final soil level is a few centimetres below the bud union. (This is the knotty, woody bit of stem between the roots and the canes.) Water the rose well. Don't fertilise at planting time.
Mulch
Roses don't like competing with other plants, so it is important to keep grass and weeds under control. An organic mulch will help with weed control, conserve moisture and add a little acidity to the soil.
Companion Plants
Because roses are not very sociable they are often planted well-spaced in beds on their own. While this may ensure the best blooms and minimise disease, rose beds can look very stark. A good trick is to surround the rose bed with a low growing hedge that disguises the lower, least attractive parts of the shrubs and lets us enjoy the sight of the wonderful blooms above.
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