Dear Rose Whisperer:
Last spring, while digging up a rose bush to replant in a more desirable location, I noticed that
the roots were not very deep. In fact, they were more lateral than vertical. I have been told by
my Consulting Rosarian that roses like to feed deep, so I prepared the hole for this rose at least
24 inches deep and about that wide. Was this an unhealthy rose?
Confused and Shallow
Dear Confused and Shallow:
This is not a question the ‘Whisperer’ frequently hears. Usually, the question is: “The roots of a rose that I dug up to
transplant were so deep, I had to cut them off about 24” down in the soil to get them out.” In that case, the gardener
wants to know if the rose has been damaged by cutting the roots in order to get it out. Most good roses are grafted
onto very vigorous rootstock which will recover from this trauma, but it may take a couple of seasons in its new
location to return to full bloom.
There are a couple of scenarios for the observations you mentioned:
1.The soil into which you planted the rose originally was apparently very fertile, and very much to the liking of the
rose. In this case, the rose did not have to sink roots very deeply into the soil to get all the nutrients that it required. It
was apparently performing well in that location with relatively shallow roots. Indications are that it was happy there
and loving life.
2.My other thought is that sometimes when roses are planted in a poorly prepared hole, in which the soil below the
hole is very hard and compacted, the rose's roots will grow laterally in the looser topsoil to find the nutrients and
moisture needed to sustain growth. However, it doesn’t sound like this was the case with your rose.
I would say, keep preparing the holes for your roses at least 24” deep, and at least that same
diameter, and fill them about a third with good organic material. Composted organic
material is best since it is less likely to ‘burn’ the new feeding roots of your transplanted
rose. Mix about 1/3 of the filling soil with the best soil that was taken out of the hole
(usually the top part of the soil first removed when you excavated the hole, since the lower
parts don’t have as many essential nutrients that the new plant needs).
You may also supplement leaf mulch or other finely ground non-composted material to add
more bulk and organic material as you fill. You can also add some composted manures or
other mulch to the fill mixture to complete filling the hole.
Here’s a formula for refilling a newly excavated hole for a rose plant that I learned
from my Consulting Rosarian:
1. Dig a hole 30” deep and 24” in diameter, setting aside the soil to be used to blend with
other nutrients to refill the hole.
2. Fill the bottom 6 to 8 inches of the hole with some rich organic material like manure
(fresh or composted), leaf mulch, etc. If you have a variety of organic materials that you
want to put in the bottom, mix them in a wheelbarrow first.
3. On top of that add about 6 to 10 inches of soil mixed with mulch, compost and a cup of
alfalfa pellets or cubes. If fresh grass clippings are available, add them to the mix. If you
have some well composted manure, mix in one or two shovels full. Make sure the mixture is
well mixed (a wheel barrow works well) and dump this into the hole.
4. Keep mixing soil with other good organic materials to build up the soil in the hole.
5. When the hole is about two thirds to three quarters full, stop adding soil mixture. Get the
garden hose and fill the hole FULL with water, and let this percolate into the hole and the
soil. It is recommended to wait several hours, or sometimes even overnight to let this water
seep into the hole and the surrounding soil. The "new" soil in the hole will settle
significantly. This is not a problem; just continue adding more soil mixture into the hole. As the soil builds, add about
a half cup of ‘super phosphate’ to each wheel barrow full of mixture to add some food for the new plant. Some
Consulting Rosarians will recommend a little bit of Epsom salt as well. Other good nutrients to add to the top 1/3 of
the hole will be cottonseed meal, bone meal, fish meal, etc. at the same rate or slightly less, as the super phosphate.
All these will give the new rose an outstanding start. Make sure that all your additives are well mixed in the wheel
barrow before adding to the hole.
6. Before planting the rose, water in the hole once again and let it settle (a couple of hours). Once settled, prepare the
hole for the new plant. Some of the dirt from the hole may need to be removed to get the rose to the desired depth in
the hole. Leave it about an inch higher than you finally want it, since the soil will continue to settle a bit during the
next few weeks, and you will be adding a covering of mulch after planting as well.
Keep smiling, and enjoy your roses. ~ RW (aka Harlow Young).
Email: threegkids@frontier.com