PLANTING OF ROSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 183, 20 August 1937, Page 14

PLANTING OF ROSES

Whenovor it is possihle, roses should be given a bed to theraselves away from trccs or shrubs — and don't make the mistake of planting annuuls or other robbers around the plants, to extract the soil nourishment that should go to the roses ; they not only do this. but also stop tho circulation of air which muat pemeate Ihe suil,

The distances between the plants must be determined by the habit or growth of each variety. In all soils where there is not natural drainage, this must be supplied, as it is very easential not only to take oif the supertiuous water, but also to aerate the soil. There are two schools of thouglit regarding placing manure on the subsoil. 1, persoually, do not favour it, as a rose plant, being a surfaco i'eeder, the manures in my garden aro placed on the top-soil. In planting, a hole should be dug 18 inches square, and 8 inches deep, and the bottom of this hole should have four inches of virgin soil, or spit, contaiuing no manure whatever, for 1 consider that a great many failures in young plants start by nianure coming in eontact with the young roots. In the centre of this hole, which is . now 4 inches deep, iriake a little mound oi earth, and a standard or half-standard is to be planted, place the stake in the centre, first driving it home firmly, before planting tlio rose, taking care that the stake will not protude through the leaf of the plant. Then place the plant on the mound of earth, which will give the roots a downward tendeucy, spreading the roots out in all directions round the plant, then fill in to the surface with niore virgin soil, treading it firmly. Firm planting and no nianure are absolutely essential. Now give the plant about one bucket oi water, and if there is a dry winter ai'ter planting, do this periodically. AVhen the work of planting is finished, rake the ground over lightly, and leave the soil loose at the top, and after every watering repeat the raking and hoeing.