Roses are one of the most beloved plants in gardens across the world. Seriously, when you think of the perfect garden, aren’t there at least one or two roses billowing over an arbor, or brightening a border? For thousands of years, gardeners have grown roses for beauty, scent and even for medicinal reasons. So if you want to know how to plant roses so that your own garden space can be filled with those gorgeous blooms and intoxicating scents, you’re in the right place! We are going to cover how to plant them, where and when to plant roses, and even how to find the best ones for your zone!

Where to Plant Roses

There are a couple things you have to consider first when you decide you want to plant rose bushes or climbers. First, is your zone. You can check out your garden zone at ‘Garden.org‘. You can search on the map, or even by your zip code. Once you know your growing zone, you will be able to chose rose varieties that will thrive in your area.

The second thing you need to consider is exactly where you will plant roses in your garden. They need at least 4-6 hours of direct sun every day in order to give you good growth and blooms. They also need plenty of room. Check your varieties growth requirements when deciding on how to space your plants. Remember, if you live in an area with high humidity, give them a little more space between them and the plants next door. This will cut down on the amount of mildew and diseases that roses can be prone to get. Ok, now that you know where you are going to plant your roses, let’s get on to the how and when!

How to Plant Roses

When you have chosen the spot for your roses, dig a hole larger than the root ball. Add a handful of bone meal to the bottom of the hole, and dig into the soil. This will help your rose bush to create a strong root system, which is the foundation for a healthy plant. If your soil is poor, or doesn’t drain well, dig some compost into the bottom of the hole before planting. Place the plant in the hole so that the “graft” of the plant is slightly below ground soil level. The graft is the knobby bump that the branches grow out of at the bottom of the plant. Now fill the hole with soil, and press down firmly. You want to eliminate air pockets around the roots, but not pack the soil so tight that the roots are compressed. Water thoroughly. We suggest creating berms around the plant so the water is directed right down to the roots, and doesn’t run off.

Tip : Before planting your rose bushes into the hole, tease the roots apart to allow them to more easily assimilate into the soil. If you are planting bare root roses, then soak them in a bucket of water for a few hours before planting, to give them a great start.

When To Plant Roses

When to plant roses depends a lot on what growing zone you live in. If you live in zones 8-10, you can pretty much plant roses anytime of year, except in the hottest part of the summer.  In most other gardening zones, you will want to plant your roses after the last frost in spring, or at least 6 weeks before the first frost in fall. This gives your rose bush a chance to develop a healthy root system before it goes dormant for winter.  You can check on your average frost dates at ‘Farmer’s Almanac‘. Photo below from HGTV.

Now that you know how to plant roses, and even when and where to plant them, what are you waiting for? The actual plants, maybe? Our favorite online sources for roses are ‘Brecks‘,  ‘Jackson and Perkins‘,  ‘David Austin Roses, and ‘Wayside Gardens‘. Remember, popular varieties sell out before early spring shipping times, so order early!

You might also want to check out our post on How To Prune Roses and Planting Lilacs. Then jump on over and check out our post on Indoor Plant Shelf Ideas over at OhMeOhMy!