Planting My Roses

It's finally time! This has been the first full summer that we've been in our new house and I couldn't have been more excited to start planning our outdoor spaces. I have big plans to transform our old patio space but we're taking it one step at a time. Part of the plan is to help define the edge of the new patio with some beautiful planters. I've always loved roses, and surprise surprise, have big plans to install a rose garden on the side of our house, but for now we'll just stick to the planters.

The edge of the patio will have three posts along the side so my plan is to have the roses next to them. If you don't already know, planting roses in containers is a bit different than just planting them in the ground. I'm not a rose expert so if you really want to dive deep, I suggest going through Heirloom Roses content. However, I was able to gather some pretty useful information.

First, lets start with what you'll need. Before you start, gather some of your basic gardening tools including, a spade and gloves, along with a large pot, top soil, compost, a liquid fertilizer, and YOUR ROSE! There seems to be varying opinions on how large of a pot your should get for your rose but the most important thing is to make sure the container is tall enough to give your rose room to grow. Remember, you'll have to water your rose more frequently if you get a shorter pot. Roses can also be really picky about their drainage. Before you plant your rose make sure your pot has a drainage hole. If it doesn't, the excess water in the soil can cause root rot.

There are a million different soil mixtures you can buy or make yourself but it seems like the safest option is a 50/50 mixture of organic top soil and organic compost. Make sure your soil does NOT have a granular fertilizer in it already. (I made this mistake) This type of fertilizer can get too hot for the rose. Instead, you will want to get a liquid fertilizer and apply it after your rose has been planted.

Now that you have everything you need, let's start planting! If you have a plastic or wooden pot, now is the time to go ahead and drill your drainage holes if you don't already have them. I found it easiest to pre-mix my soil mixture in the pot I would be planting my rose in. Make sure not to fill your pot all the way up with your soil mixture.When you're all done your pot should have a couple of inches of empty space at the top. Go ahead and water this soil before you add your rose in as well. This will make it easier for the rose to drink the water right after it's been planted. The soil should hold it's form in your hand but not be sopping wet.

Next up is to make a hole for your rose and place it in. Make sure you have some extra soil to put over the top of the original soil that your rose came with. Water it in and repeat until you have all of your containers planted! Pay attention to the instructions on your fertilizer as well. Also, if you live in a warmer climate, and are worried about your water evaporating too quickly, you can top your rose off with some mulch to help keep the water in. If you have any questions don't be afraid to reach out or head on over to my instagram page to watch everything we talk about here!