Container Roses: How To Plant
You’ve just bought a rose in a plastic pot.
What do you do now?
Well, you’ve got two choices. Either transplant the rose into your garden or into a new container. Here are the five steps to take, no matter which approach you choose …
Step One: If you want to place your rose in a new pot, find one with drainage holes. In terms of height, get a pot that is at least the same depth as the current container, preferably deeper. A container about 18 inches wide is perfect.
Similarly, you can dig a hole with the same dimensions, about 18 inches wide and as deep or deeper than the container.
Step Two: Remove the rose from its container and loosen the soil around the root ball so you can see the roots. Spread the roots out and remember, the roots will grow longer as the rose grows. Make sure your container has enough space so the roots don’t bundle into a ball.
Step Three: Place the rose in the center of the hole (or pot). Fill in with standard potting soil. You don’t need to buy any fancy or special soil. Normal potting soil from your local garden center is sufficient.
Step Four: Now it’s time to get your hands a little dirty. Work the soil mixture around the roots thoroughly. This will eliminate air pockets and help the plant to adapt.
Step Five: Water the rose thoroughly. This is also a good time to add some material, like mulch, as a top layer to help the soil retain moisture.
And that’s it!
