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Experienced gardeners say that It's better to plant roses exactly in the fall. At this time, there are all the necessary conditions that will help the young seedling take root and settle down in a new place. It often rains in the fall, so you won't have to worry about watering. In addition, successful rooting is facilitated by proper air humidity and soil heated to the required level. But no matter how favorable the conditions, much depends on the gardener. This article will look at how to plant roses with an open root system in the fall.
Selecting suitable seedlings
It is better to buy bushes for planting in specialized stores. Of course, you can order seedlings on the Internet, but you won’t be able to look at their condition. Bushes with an open root system are cheaper. But it is important to remember that such seedlings need to be planted in the near future.
The roots should not be dry or show signs of rotting. A healthy root system always develops proportionally and also has a naturally uniform color. A good seedling should have at least 3 main shoots. The thorns and stems have a uniform green color and a glossy sheen.
If you buy bushes with a closed root system, you must definitely look at how tightly the earthen ball adheres to the root system and the container. A healthy bush has a large number of young branches containing fresh green leaves.
Choosing a site for growing roses
The seedling will take root well and will grow actively only in the right area. In this case, it is necessary to take into account some requirements. The fact is that a rose is a rather whimsical plant for which it is necessary to create suitable conditions.
Rose loves warmth and sunlight. Therefore, only well-lit places are chosen for growing “flower queens”. On the north side, the flower garden can be covered by buildings, the main thing is that the south side is completely open. Bushes should not be blown by winds from all sides. In addition, the rose does not grow well in shady places. For this reason, the plant is not planted near trees and lush shrubs.
The groundwater level in the area with roses should not be too high. Stagnant moisture can cause rotting of the root system. In such conditions, roses will simply die. What soil is suitable for growing roses?
There are 3 main criteria:
- loose fertile soil;
- soil acidity level – slightly acidic;
- a sufficient amount of mineral and organic fertilizers.
To plant seedlings, you need to prepare the area in advance. To do this, it is carefully dug up. At this stage, you can apply mineral fertilizers. The amount of nutrients is determined according to the instructions. A month before planting the bush, you need to fertilize the soil with compost or humus.
Correct technology for planting roses
Probably the most important thing in planting roses is choosing a specific date. It depends on whether the young seedlings will have time to take root before the onset of frost. In the southern regions, roses are usually planted from the beginning of October until the middle of the month. In the middle zone, this period falls in mid-September - the first weeks of October. In areas with cold climates, they try to plant plants before the end of September.
If you plant roses too early, foliage may begin to actively grow on the bushes, and frosts will catch the plants at the most inopportune moment, when the young shoots are still very tender. If, on the contrary, you plant the seedlings later, the bushes simply will not have time to take root and may freeze during the first night frosts.
It happens that the weather changes sharply and severe frosts begin. In this case, it is not recommended to plant roses. Seedlings in containers can be placed on a glazed balcony. The main thing is that the air temperature in such a room does not fall below 0 °C. It is better to plant bushes with an open root system in a greenhouse or greenhouse.
How to prepare a seedling
Planting roses begins with preparing the seedlings themselves. Bushes with an open root system should be left in a bucket of water for a day. If you are going to plant roses from special containers, then you do not need to do any preparation. After this, all damaged and dry branches are cut from the bushes. It is also necessary to remove leaves and shoots from the plant, leaving about 30 centimeters.
Rotten and dry roots should be removed. The white core should be visible on the cut, which means that living wood has begun.For prevention, you can spray the seedling with a solution (3%) of iron sulfate. This is done so that the plant hurts less. And the roots themselves should be dipped into a special “grinder”. It is prepared from mullein and clay (for 200 grams of clay, take 100 grams of mullein).
How to plant roses
First you need to dig a hole. Separate holes are dug for one or two bushes. If you are going to plant a large number of roses, then it will be more convenient to dig a trench. The diameter of the hole should be at least 40 cm, depending on the size of the root system. In autumn, roses need to be planted deep (60 to 70 cm), as the top layer of soil freezes faster.
You also need to determine the distance between the bushes. It all depends on the specific variety of roses:
- Polyanthus roses are planted at a distance of about 40 cm.
- For hybrid teas, at least 60 cm will be required.
- Remontants will feel good at a distance of about 70 cm.
- Park varieties should be spaced 1 m apart.
If the soil is quite heavy, it is necessary to place a special drainage at the bottom of the hole. To do this, the bottom surface is lined with a layer of broken bricks or pebbles. Such drainage should be no more than 2–3 cm thick. Next, you need to carefully spread the root system along the bottom. To do this, you can pour a little soil in the middle of the hole, and then put a seedling on it and lower the roots down.
Each layer of soil is compacted slightly so that there are no air cavities left in the soil. After this, the seedling is generously watered. This may require about 2 buckets of liquid.After the moisture has been absorbed, it is advisable to mulch the soil. In autumn, such a procedure can save bushes from temperature changes. The still damp soil is sprinkled with a little dry soil, after which the bushes are hilled up with peat. The height of the embankment should be at least 20 cm. Compost or hay are also suitable for these purposes.
Preparing for winter
It is important not only to plant roses correctly, but also to cover them well for the winter. This is especially true in regions where winter is very cold and frosty. To reliably insulate the shelter, it is necessary to make a special frame of metal rods around the plant. You can also use ordinary wooden pegs instead, which are simply buried in the ground. Then the structure is covered with special material. It can be lutrasil or agrofibre. The shelter must be properly secured with wire so that it does not blow away in the wind. When snow falls, the shelter can be additionally covered with a thick snowdrift.
Conclusion
As we have seen, planting roses is quite a troublesome task. It is necessary to choose good planting material, prepare the seedling and soil, dig a hole of the required size, mulch the soil and cover the bush well for the winter. Only by doing all this can you achieve good results. But how nice it will be when a bush planted in the fall blooms the next year, delighting everyone around with its aroma and beauty.
