The venerable queen of Europe's historical gardens is unquestionably the rose. Her sovereignty holds sway over all others with an unforgettable aroma, color and elegance. Your garden will bring all others to their knees if you take a chance and plant these pulchritudinous perfumeries.

Begin by staking out--literally--where you plan to place these beauties. Using bamboo stakes will aid you in evenly spacing them. They will thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Group them by color, maintaining a harmonious flow throughout your garden by combining them in a proportionate, orderly and congruous manner. And remember that a soil pH level of 5.5 to 6.6 is the ultimate medium for raising a rose garden.

Our roses have been carefully inspected when they arrived from the rose companies. We have planted our roses in biodegradable pulp pots. Before they have been transplanted in these containers, their roots and canes have been inspected to make sure there are no damages or breakage to each rose. These containers can be planted directly into the ground, since they will biodegrade, or transplanted from out of the container into the ground.

Roses come in three grades; grade 1 is the best and therefore the most expensive. The requirement for this grade is that the plants must have at least three strong canes, two of which must be at least 18 inches in length for hybrid teas and grandifloras. The canes should be at least 1/8 inch in diameter. Grade 1½ requires at least two strong canes, 15 inches long for hybrid teas and grandifloras, and at least 1/8 inch in diameter. Grade 2 is the least expensive grade, and also the least reliable; they could end up an unwanted gamble. The thicker the diameter, the better the plant, no matter from which of the hundreds of varieties you choose.

To ensure a healthy start for your roses, we recommend soaking each pulp pot container with a mixture of Master Nursery Root Master B1, and water. This will help prevent any transplant shock and to send out new feeder roots on the roses to help them get off to a great start. To prepare the area for planting your rose, dig the hole 6-8" deeper, and wider then the pulp pot. Amend your existing soil with a good rose soil mix like Nurseryman's Rose Planting Mix. Mix 30% of the Rose Mix, with 20% Worm Gold Plus, and 50% your Native Soil.

If planting the pulp pot directly into the ground: cut a large “X” at the bottom of the container, and slice the sides of the can (usually four), to ensure the roots will grow through the container. Keep in mind NOT to line up the cuts that you make in the container. Mound the soil at the bottom of the hole slightly, so as not to create a watering well underneath the pot. Back-fill the soil mixture around the container and tamp firmly to release any air pockets. Once planted the soil level inside the container should be the same level as it is in the ground.

If transplanting the rose from the pulp pot into the ground: remove rose from container. In the center of the hole, firmly pat the earth into a cone. Spread out the rose's roots over this cone, placing the bud union (between the roots and limbs) at the correct level. The bud union is the most susceptible part of the plant, so placement either above or below the soil line is of utmost importance.

In milder zones, plant the rose with the bud union about 1 to 1 ½ inches above ground level. Back-fill the hole with additional soil mixture, remembering to gently tamp the soil around the roots to prevent any air pockets. Water well, and why not add a solution of Master Nursery Root Master B1 for that little boost?
After planting, make sure to give each rose bush a nice deep soaking. Don’t water again until green shoots start to appear.

Prior to the first bloom, add two inches of mulch over the entire bed; this will keep the roots cool and moist, conserve moisture in hot weather, and help to prevent weeds from gaining a foothold. An excellent mulch is Nurseyman’s Black Forest available in 1.5 cu ft. and 3 cu ft. bags. As soon as your plant blooms, it is developed enough for feeding with a rose plant food. Liquid is always preferable to granular as it is immediately available to the roots. Feed with Dr. Earth Rose Fertilizer after the initial bloom cycle and once a month thereafter; cease feeding two months before the first frost.

Now take a break from your labors, and imagine what this bundle of sticks you've just planted will soon look like. Beauteous blooms will abound, and all because you cared enough to make the effort. Congratulations!