How to amend soil for bare-root own-root roses? Any other advice?

5 years ago

Yikes, the David Austin roses are arriving sooner than I expected. My procedure when I planted similar bushes in 2015 was: Soaked 20 hrs in water, then 30 minutes in water plus SuperThrive. I dug a big hole and removed the lowest 1/3 of soil for use elsewhere. I amended to 50% soil and 50% manure and/or compost. I added bone meal, gypsum, BioTone, perlite, and iron to the soil mix. I also added liquid rooting stimulator to the water. Those roses thrived. That's my only experience planting bare root roses. My soil is somewhat loamy on top but fairly clayey at 10-12" and lower.

So, what's the current consensus on amending soil for bare root? What do you-all add to the soil? Advice about soil amendments as well as other tips much appreciated!

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Comments (3)

Embothrium
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Do not soak. Choose a spot with full sun and good drainage, adequate space. Dig wide holes no deeper than the existing roots, back-fill with existing soil. Improve conditions by mulching with organic material after planting, instead of digging it in. Fertilize with a granular product applied to the surface of the soil, per label directions if there are definite indications - such as a soil test - that fertilization is called for.

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/Planting-fact-sheet.pdf
ellatiarella (SW Mich 6a) thanked Embothrium
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
5 years ago
Ella, what your previous plan was sounds similar to what a lot of us do. It works very well here.
ellatiarella (SW Mich 6a) thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
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nippstress - zone 5 Nebraska
5 years ago
I agree with Sheila - most of us use the opportunity of planting a rose to do some spot enhancing of the organic material in our soil. I agree that top dressing with organic material is the best long-term solution to improving the soil, but as a short term boost for the soil mixing in compost or something else organic has been very effective for me. I contrast beds where I have been planting roses this way for some time, and the soil in the entire bed becomes this lovely textured and rich soil that I can dig in with my fingers, while beds that I only top-dress haven't worked in that organic material very deeply yet even though they've all been planted the same amount of time.

Having said that, you don't have to amend with anything if you start out with good loamy soil like you describe, so there's no particular need to do as much as you've done or certainly to add anything more. For me, the second set of additives is a bit more effort than I want to put in but it sounds fine being all organic and slow acting. The one thing you don't want to do in any new planting is add fast acting fertilizers which for me include most granular fertilizers. Biotone and other organic fertilizers break down more slowly and don't run the risk of burning sensitive feeder roots.

I simplify your latter list and add just manure, alfalfa hay, and something to lighten the soil that I can buy in large bulk and relatively cheaply (lately it has been cotton burr compost). My preference is to add no more than 1/3 other substance to the existing soil, since you want the rose to get used to the conditions it's going to expect from here on out rather than getting hooked on any particular amendments at the outset. You've obviously been successful with 1/2 supplements so go with what works for you.

I always soak bare roots and you'll find a majority of us do the same, and a majority of the vendors specifically recommend soaking the roots. The principle is to make sure the rose is adequately hydrated to handle the transition to the ground. One look at dried out husks of body bag roses indicates how important hydration is for bare root roses.

Cynthia
ellatiarella (SW Mich 6a) thanked nippstress - zone 5 Nebraska

How to amend soil for bare-root own-root roses? Any other advice?

Comments (3)

Embothrium

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR

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nippstress - zone 5 Nebraska

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