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How to plant a potted rose

How to plant a potted rose

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Tuesday, 24 September 2019 at 8:57 am

Find out how to plant and establish a potted rose.

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Spring and autumn are the perfect time to introduce new plants to borders, like roses.

In autumn, the bare-root season is around the corner, so you should find good deals on potted roses at garden centres and nurseries who'll be keen to clear their potted stock.

For your rose, choose a site that isn't too windy with fertile soil. A sheltered spot will stop your new rose rocking in autumn winds, giving it a better chance of establishing. Avoid soil that's been used to grow roses – this will help to eliminate disease. If you have to use the same growing space, try to replace all the soil or use mycorrhizal fungi.

For more expert advice on growing roses, check out our grow guides for species and shrub roses, climbing roses, rambling roses and ground cover roses.

Follow the four easy steps below to plant a potted rose.

You Will Need

Fork
Spade
Mycorrhizal fungi
Well-rotted manure

Step 1

Dig a hole that's slightly larger than your rose's container, then break up the soil at the base and work well-rotted farmyard manure into the soil at the bottom of the hole.

Step 2

Remove the container, sprinkling mycorrhizal fungi over the roots. Position the plant in the hole with the graft union just below the soil surface, so that it will be totally covered by soil when planting is completed. Fill in the hole, gently pressing down to get rid of air gaps.

Step 3

Mulch the soil around the rose with more well-rotted manure, but leave a 10cm gap around the stem. This will reduce weed competition and improve soil condition. Repeat in spring.

Step 4

Water to settle the soil around the roots. This is one of the most important aspects of planting anything new. Make sure that the soil doesn't dry out while the rose establishes.

Caring for your rose
Feed your rose in spring with a liquid or granular slow-release feed – you'll find specific rose feeds in garden centres. Lightly prune in the first year, cutting back flowering shoots and those that are out of proportion.