Chapter 17 (extract 4) of "Roses for English Gardens" by Jekyll and Mawley (1902), in which Mr Mawley lays out the steps necessary for good planting of roses.
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Illustration: Diagram of rose planting- spreading out the roots in a square hole 6 inches deep.
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The Actual Planting.—This can be undertaken at any time between the beginning of November and the end of March, but the best time of all is early in November. Should the ground be sodden or frozen when the Roses arrive, the planting must be deferred until in the one case the superfluous moisture has passed into the subsoil, and in the other until the frost is quite out of the ground. In order to prevent the exposure of the roots to sunshine or drying winds it will be a good plan to take only a few plants at a time from the place where they have been heeled in and to place a mat over them when brought to the side of the bed. A square hole for each plant should be made, not more than six inches deep and sufficiently large to hold the roots when spread out horizontally.
A plant should then be taken from beneath the matting and placed in the hole, taking care to spread out the roots evenly all round. Some fine soil, free from manure, should next be worked with the hand between the roots and above them to the depth of three inches, and afterwards trodden down with moderate firmness, so as not to bruise the roots. After adding more soil, that in the hole should again be pressed down, more firmly this time, and a final treading given when the hole is filled up. Firm planting is of the greatest importance to the after welfare of the plants. In planting Roses intended for exhibition, or where extra attention can be given them, it will be well to place a little leaf-mould at the bottom of each hole, and to work in, among and above the roots, a few inches of the same material instead of the fine soil. Failing leaf-mould, some finely chopped fibrous loam may be used; if of a somewhat gritty nature so much the better. In each case a small handful of bone-dust should be sprinkled over the layer of leaf-mould or fibrous loam. The principal advantage of these additions is that they enable the plants to become more quickly established, and also allow of the planting being proceeded with, when, owing to the wet nature of the soil in the beds, it would not be otherwise practicable. No manure should be allowed to come in contact with the roots themselves at the time of planting. The roots when they become active will soon find out the manure and appreciate it, but in a dormant state it is more like poison than food to them.
Planting Climbing or Pillar Roses.—These strong growing varieties are often treated as if they could take care of themselves and therefore required less care in planting than other Roses, whereas the contrary is the case. The hole made to receive them should be two feet six inches square and two feet deep. The existing soil, if fairly good, should be enriched with a liberal addition of farmyard manure, and the planting proceeded with as described in the previous paragraph. If the natural soil, however, be poor and thin some of this should be removed altogether and better soil substituted. The reason why these extra vigorous Roses require a larger quantity of good soil is because the roots have to support a much larger plant, and as a rule they are intended to occupy the same position for a great number of years.
Staking and Labelling.—All standard Roses should be firmly staked as soon as planted, or better still, the stake should be driven into the centre of the hole made to receive the Rose before the latter is planted. The upper part of the climbing Roses should be also fastened either to the support up which they are intended to be trained or to a temporary stake at the time of planting. Ordinary dwarf Roses will not require staking if planted firmly as directed, and if any extra long shoots they may have are shortened.
All Roses as soon as planted should be labelled. Permanent metal labels may be obtained already stamped with the name of almost any Rose of Mr. J. Pinches, 3 Crown Buildings, Crown Street, Camberwell, S.E.
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More:
Rose planting - site requirements; preparation of the rose beds; heeling in.
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