Take Root - Things To Think About When Choosing The Location

For your Rose Garden

Deciding where to plant your rose garden is one of the most important decisions you can make regarding your future rose bed. Conditions can determine whether or not you have well formed, admirable roses or wilting, weepy ones. If you want gorgeous roses that keep you and others in awe, don't take the location of your rose grade lightly.

Choosing a location for your rose garden may take some thought. Where is the best place to plant your future prize winning roses? You may have a huge yard stretched out before you, or a little nook in the corner of a big city. Whatever your space situation is, you can find a suitable location for your rose garden.

The first vital step in choosing the location for your rose garden involves pinning down a bright, open area of your yard. Most roses need a ton of sunlight. Choose an area that will receive many hours of sunshine. Do not plant roses in a spot that will be shaded for most of the day. You want to plant where there will be five or more hours of sunlight a day. With that in mind, also be aware of areas where the roses will bake. Find a happy medium. You want ample sunlight but your roses don't need to fry.



Once you have chosen a suitable spot to plant your roses, get rid of any turf. Extract a few oil samples to determine the grade of soil you have. Soil that has a high level of acidity will be drained of nitrogen quickly making it unsuitable for growing roses.

You won't need a biologist to help you determine the pH balance of you soil. Testing the level of acidity is simple. Dig 3-4 inches into the soil and gather a few small samples. You can buy a soil evaluation kit from a gardening store or nursery. If you do not understand the results, have a knowledgeable Rosarian translate them.

Once you know the pH balance of your soil you will know if you need to add dolomite lime or not. A pH balance of 6.0 to 6.5 is excellent for growing roses. Check another area if the first chosen one is less than favorable. You could end up having a thriving rose bed in the most unlikely of places.

Roses are not big on sharing. They need room to grow and thrive in their own private space. Besides, you want your beautiful rose bed separate from your other plants. When you step into your garden you will be able to admire the breathtaking cluster of roses you have. Steer clear of tall buildings and shrubs.

Black spot and other diseases occur when there is not any proper air circulation through the rose plants. The amount of space needed between each plant depends on the rose. Hybrids will need about 5 feet while miniatures will need, 6 to 12 inches and Floribunda's will need about 2 to 3 feet.

Remember, your roses will be growing so you need to take into account what their mature size will be. What height and width will your roses reach? Have you chosen small roses that will not take up much more room than they do now? Or have you planted larger roses that will burst out of their space?



Climbing roses work well with other plants but most roses do not. Roses thrive with other roses but they must be planted simultaneously. Don't plant a new rose in the same soil your old roses are using. Begin fresh and start growing a new rose bed.

Another mistake that new gardeners often make is planting too many rose bushes. If you are new to gardening, take it easy. No need to become a master gardener over night. Take your time and get acquainted with your rose bed first. Start out small and learn all of the responsibilities of caring for roses.

Remember, the spot you plant in should be open and easily accessible. You will need to water the bed deeply; 2-3 times a week and proper drainage is necessary. Make sure other plants will not be in the way of you maneuvering easily around your rose bed.