Rose

Morden Blush Rose from Heirloom Roses

Dig a BIG HOLE. It is the single most important factor in growing beautiful, large rose bushes. The hole needs to be 2’ x 2’ to give the roots room to spread since plant roots tend to stay inside the holes they are planted in. 

Prep the soil. Mix 1/3 peat moss with soil from the top 2/3 portion of the hole. Discard the soil from the bottom of the hole as it is normally not as fertile as the top. Add 1 cup of bone meal to the mixture, and then place aged cow manure in the bottom 6” of the hole. This fertilizer will provide food for the rose when the roots reach it after the first growing season. Manure and some compost material can be hot, so putting it only in the bottom of the hole will prevent the fine feeder roots from burning. Fill the hole with enough soil mixture so the rose will sit 1” lower than the level of the surrounding area.

Water newly planted roses 2 to 3 times per week until established. Afterward, give them a deep watering, (2 inches) once a week, or if extremely warm, twice a week.

Feed your roses with a liquid-only fertilizer during the first season. Roses are heavy feeders and the granular fertilizers are too hot and will burn the fine baby roots and kill the rose. We recommend using our Founder's Fish Fertiliz

er every 4-6 weeks while blooming. Do not use any other fertilizer that starts in a granular form. A granular type fertilizer, like our Heirloom Boost and Bloom, can be used during the second season and beyond.