Chapter 17 (extract 3) of "Roses for English Gardens" by Jekyll and Mawley (1902), in which Mr Mawley describes the technique of "heeling in" to keep roses in good shape for final planting.
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Illustration: Roses at Cant's of Colchester (1890s)
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The Treatment of Rose Plants when received from the Nurseries.—When unpacking Roses, care should be taken that neither the roots nor the branches are injured, and on no account should the roots be allowed to become in any way dry. As soon as separated, the plants should be "heeled in"; that is to say, a shallow trench should be made in the kitchen garden or other convenient spot, and the roots of the new Rose plants be placed in it, and afterwards watered and completely covered with soil. When heeling the plants in, it will be advisable to place them in the trench in the order in which they are to be afterwards arranged in the beds, so that the required varieties may be readily removed from the trench as they are wanted without disturbing the rest. If the weather be frosty at the time the plants arrive, it will be well not to unpack them at all, but to leave them in their straw bundles until the weather changes and they can be properly heeled in. If for any reason the package be unduly delayed in transit and the bark on the shoots presents a shrivelled appearance, a deeper trench should be dug, and the plants, branches and all, placed lengthways in it and completely buried. When removed from the trench in three days' time the shoots will be found to have recovered their freshness.
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More:
Rose planting - site requirements; preparation of the rose bed; the actual planting
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