PAGE A6, WHITBY FREE PRESS, OUTDOOR LIVING, APRIL 13, 1988 Some advice for planting rose bushes m spring By Veronica Colangelo After you have purchased a new rose buâh it is critical not *fro *Br *32 *5s *ele *sh Cl to let the roots dry out. When you get home with your plants you should attempt to get them into the garden immediately. The ideal would be to prepare the planting hole before you CUT YOUR PROBLEMS DOWN The tough tractor that's right for you. *from 8 h.p. up to 20 h.p. 2 cyl. engine *hydrostatic transmission *hydraulic lift system *power steering 8 Choose frorn stock. Excellent financing available. he all new design uNcH ANADIAATIMES m 8 h.p. and up iggs & Stratton industrial/commercial engine "twin blade side discharge full floating mower deck speed forward, 1speed reverse actric start ock mount hoose from stock. ccellent financing available. "Whate ver your choice we can help you!" UN W HUB INTERNATIONAL EQUIPMENT LTD. Box 189, Brooklin, Ontario LOB 1CO (416) 655-8401 or 655-4401 Business Hours, 1988: Mon. to Fr. - 8 am - 5:30 pm, Sat. 8 am - noon. even pick up your new roses. Realizing that few of us are that organized, bare rooted plants should be kept in a plastic .bag until they can be put into the ground. Container grown roses need only to be kept sufficiently moist. In spring, roses are best planted as soon as a spade can be driven into the ground. A newly planted rose will get off to a better start if it is planted in the cool moist spring soil, rather than in May, when the air is warmer and dryer. Roses prefer a clay based soild over a light sandy soil, but roses can be grown in almost any type if lots of organic matter is worked in. If you routinely refer to your soil as "concrete" from the planting area, and replace it with something lighter. Preparation of the soil prior to planting the rose is important for optimum growth. Dig a hole large enough so that the roots can be spread out in a natural manner. The deeper the the soil is prepared the better, 18 to 24 inches is not too deep. Work well rotted or composted cattle manure into the soil along with a liberal addition of peat moss. Don't worry about making it too rich. Roses are heavy feeders and organic matter helps the moisture retention qualities of the soil. An addition of a handful of superphosphate is also recommended. Immediately before planting, if you have purchased a bare rooted specimen, put the bush in a pail of water so that the finer roots do not dry out, especially if it is sunny or windy. The swollen area on the stem just above the roots called the crown or bud union should be planted at about one inch below the soil's surface. Firm the soil so that the rose's roots are in contact with it and there are no air pockets around the roots. Afterwards soak the rose thoroughly. Some experts recommend mounding each plant with soil for about two weeks to prevent it from drying out on sunny days. At the time the rose is planted it should be pruned or cut back if this has not already been done by the nursery or garden centre. Only three or four strong branches from the base should remain and these too should be cut back to about four or five inches above the ground. This gives the rose a better chance to establish strong roots which will subsequently result in a healthier plant. Established roses should be pruned in this manner also. Roses which are not, pruned correctly in the spring tend to produce a lot of bloom in June and very few and very small ones after that. The exception to this is the everblooming climbers and they should be. pruned after they flower. If they are a few years old and have become too thick, the oldest branch can be removed leaving young healthy growth on the plant. Once your roses are well established and growing, preferably after the first bloom, they may be fed with a prepared rose fertilizer formula available at all nurseries and garden centres. Roses should not be fed after July since this encourages soft growth and raises the risk of winter kill. Roses are affected by a fungus such as powdery mildew or black spot and are bothered by aphids or mites. Insecticide-fungicide mix-, tures are available commercially to control the problem and it is recommended that they be applied at regular intervals once, every two weeks or so. Roses need good drainage, but they do also needa lot of water during the growing season. If the weather has been dry, they should be soaked once or twice a week depending on how your soil holds water. Water either in late afternoon or early morning, being careful to water at the soil level, rather than spraying off any dusting chemicals you may have applied to the leaves. .