Rules and features of autumn planting of roses with an open root system

The most comfortable time for planting roses is autumn. Weather conditions in the autumn months are favorable for adaptation and rooting of the young plant. Due to frequent rains, you do not need to think about watering, and thanks to the humid air and the soil warmed up over the summer, the roots quickly take root. But the success of the autumn planting of roses with an open root system depends not only on the weather, but also on the correctness of the gardener's actions.

In which month is it better to plant?

Autumn weather changes rapidly, so it is important to plant your roses before the season is over. The optimal time for planting bushes with an open root system is September and early October. It is impossible to name exact days, it all depends on the weather. It is important to complete planting at least 3 weeks before the arrival of the autumn frost so that the rose seedlings have time to adapt.

When choosing a planting time, take into account temperature conditions. It is advisable to plant roses on days when the daytime temperature is + 12-15 ° C, and the nighttime temperature does not drop below +5 ° C. Under such conditions, the roots will take root, and the buds will not wake up until spring.

The optimal dates for autumn planting of roses are not the same in different climatic regions:

• in the middle lane - the second half of September, the first days of October;
• in the southern regions of Russia - during October;
• in Siberia, in the Urals - all September.

Selection and preparation of planting material

Open-rooted seedlings are cheaper than closed-rooted roses, but they need to be planted almost immediately after purchase.

When choosing seedlings at a gardening store, you need to examine the root system. The roots should not be shriveled, rotten, unevenly colored, developing disproportionately in different directions. A good seedling has 3 main shoots. Thorns and branches should be green with a smooth, shiny surface.

Before the autumn planting, seedlings with open roots are prepared: they are placed in a bucket filled with water for a day, then the injured and dried branches are cut off. Leaves are also removed, and only 30 cm are left from the main shoots. The roots are cut to 25 cm. Rotten and dried roots are completely removed.

As a preventive measure, it will not hurt to spray the seedlings with a 3% solution of ferrous sulfate. And for the roots, a mixture is made of cow dung (100 g) and clay (200 g).

Site selection and soil preparation

The survival rate of roses in the autumn period depends on the correctness of the site chosen for planting. A capricious plant needs a lot of warmth and sun. The site should be abundantly lit.There may be shading from the north, the main thing is full illumination from the south. The chosen location should be protected from strong winds.

Do not plant roses in the shade of trees and tall shrubs.

Roses grow poorly in clay soil, where there is excess moisture. The groundwater level at the site should be medium. In the lowlands where the water stagnates, the roots of the roses will quickly rot.

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Optimal soil for rose bushes:

• loose;
• rich in mineral and organic substances;
• slightly acidic.

The plot chosen for autumn planting is prepared in advance, in spring or summer. The minimum period is one month before planting roses. The soil is carefully dug up, mineral dressing is applied:

• for sandy soil humus and peat (bucket per 1 m²);
• for clayey - sand, humus, turf (also a bucket per 1 m²);
• for sour - dolomite or ash;
• for alkaline - peat or sulphate iron.

Step-by-step instructions for planting roses with an open root system

For the successful rooting of roses, for their quick adaptation before the winter cold, it is important to follow the rules of autumn planting.

The optimal distance between bushes

It is important to plant roses at a certain distance from each other. Moreover, the distance is measured before digging the planting holes. If the bushes are too close, a microclimate is created that provokes the development of infectious diseases. And it is more difficult to care for thickened plantings.

The optimal distance between bushes is not the same for different varieties of roses:

• for tea hybrids - 40-60 cm;
• for climbing - 100-120 cm;
• for semi-pebble - 80-100 cm;
• for floribunda - 30-50 cm;
• for dwarf curbs - about 30 cm;
• for polyanthus - 40-60 cm;
• for English - about 50 cm.

Preparation of planting holes

Planting holes are prepared 2-3 weeks before the autumn planting of roses:

1. Dig holes 60-70 cm deep, 40 cm in diameter.
2. Drainage is done, brick chips, expanded clay, pebbles are placed on the bottom.
3. Fertile soil is poured over the drainage layer.

For further backfilling of the pit, a nutrient substrate is made in advance: 8 kg of mullein, 25 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium are added to the dug soil. All components are mixed.

Planting process

Roses with an open root system are planted in the fall according to the step-by-step instructions below:

1. The seedling is placed on a soil mound, poured at the bottom of the hole. Spread the roots so that they do not rush up. The root collar should be 3-4 cm below the soil surface.
2. Holding the seedling, carefully pour the prepared nutrient substrate into the hole. The plant is gently shaken so that the soil is compacted, there are no voids between the roots.
3. The covered earth is lightly pressed down with your hands. Dig an annular watering hole around the bush.
4. The plant is watered abundantly (2 buckets of water per bush). Water is poured slowly so that it is all absorbed into the ground, and not spread over the surface. Do not allow drops of water to fall on the shoots.
5. After watering, check the level of the root collar. It happens that the earth sags from moisture, the neck becomes bare. In this case, add the required amount of substrate.

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Features of planting different types of roses

Almost all varieties of roses are planted in the autumn according to the above scheme. But there are exceptions:

1. Stamp roses with open roots are planted at an angle of 45 °. This will prevent damage to the stem in the process of bending it down for shelter for the winter. Moreover, the bush should be tilted to the same side into which the stem will be bent. The main thing is that the slope is not directed towards paths, curbs and other hard surfaces.
2. Climbing roses are buried so that the root collar is 8-10 cm below the soil surface. Bushes are planted near the support. Moreover, the distance from the plant to the support should be about 30 cm.

How to care for roses after planting in the fall

For the successful rooting of roses planted in the fall, it is important to take proper care of them. Care includes the following activities:

1. Mulching prevents crust deposits on the soil surface after watering. Mulch retains moisture in the soil, prevents the roots from overheating on hot days, and freezes on cold days. For mulching, humus or peat is used, put in a layer of 8-10 cm.
2. Loosening is used after watering and precipitation in the absence of mulch. The procedure also prevents crusting on the soil surface.
3. The shelter is placed after the establishment of regular autumn frosts. Agrofibre or spruce paws are used as a covering material.

If the autumn months are rainy, then there is no need to water the roses. Watering is carried out only in dry weather.

Possible problems

When planting roses with open roots in autumn, the following errors are possible:

1. Exceeding the depth of the root collar in the soil. As a result, the bush withers and dies.
2. Planting roses in peat soil, which is characterized by excess moisture. In such conditions, the roots rot, die off. The optimal type of soil for planting roses is loam. It is airy, saturated with useful substances, does not retain moisture.
3. Incorrect root placement in the planting pit. In order for the bush to take root faster, survive the winter cold without any problems, the roots must be carefully straightened. Due to the incorrect location of the roots, the plant has a stunted appearance, grows poorly.
4. The use of cold water for irrigation leads to the death of the root system.
5. Insufficient compaction of the soil, the formation of voids between the roots. When watering, the land will settle, it will be necessary to add a substrate to level the surface.

If roses with open roots were bought belatedly, the optimal period for autumn planting has passed, then there is no need to rush to placing seedlings in the open field. It is better to dig them into the substrate in the greenhouse until spring, slightly tilting them above the soil surface, cover with spruce paws or peat with the arrival of frost, and throw snow in winter.

You can also keep the roses in the basement until spring, where the temperature is about 0 ° C, and when the heat comes, plant them in a permanent place.