Autumn planting of roses with an open root system: rules and features

The most comfortable time for planting roses is autumn. Weather conditions in the autumn months favor the adaptation and rooting of the young plant. Thanks to frequent rains, you do not need to think about watering, and thanks to moist air and 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 correct actions of the gardener.

Which month is best to plant?

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

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

Optimal timing for autumn planting of roses is 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 - the whole of 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 in a gardening store, you need to inspect the root system. The roots should not be shrunken, rotten, unevenly colored, developing disproportionately in different directions. A good seedling has from 3 main shoots. Thorns and branches should be green, with a smooth, shiny surface.

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

With a preventive purpose, it does not hurt to spray the seedlings with a 3% solution of ferrous sulfate. And for the roots, they make a mixture of cow dung (100 g) and clay (200 g).

Site selection and soil preparation

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

Don't plant roses in the shade of trees and tall shrubs.

Roses do not grow well in clay soil, where there is excess moisture. The groundwater level in the area should be average. In a lowland where water stagnates, the roots of roses will quickly rot.

Optimal soil for rose bushes:

loose;
rich in minerals and organic matter;
slightly acidic.

The site selected 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 top dressing is applied:

for sandy soil humus and peat (one bucket per 1 m2^2);
for clay - sand, humus, turf (also a bucket per 1 m2^2);
for sour - dolomite or ash;
for alkaline - peat or sulfate 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.

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 landing holes. If the bushes are too close, a microclimate is created that provokes the development of infectious diseases. Yes, and it is more difficult to care for dense plantings.

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

for tea hybrids - 40-60 cm;
for climbing - 100-120 cm;
for semi-climbing - 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 landing pits

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

Dig holes 60-70 cm deep, 40 cm in diameter.
Drainage is done, brick chips, expanded clay, pebbles are placed on the bottom.
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 excavated soil. All components are mixed.

Boarding process

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

The sapling is placed on a soil mound, poured at the bottom of the hole. Straighten the roots so that they do not rush up. The root neck should be 3-4 cm below the soil surface.
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.
The covered earth is lightly pressed down with hands. Dig an annular hole for watering around the bush.
The plant is watered abundantly (2 buckets of water per bush). Water is poured slowly so that it is completely absorbed into the ground, and does not spread over the surface. Do not allow water drops to fall on the shoots.
After watering, check the level of the root collar. It happens that the earth sags from moisture, the neck is exposed. In this case, add the required amount of substrate.

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:

Standard roses with open roots are planted at an angle of 45°. This will prevent damage to the trunk 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 trunk will be bent. The main thing is that the slope should not be aimed at paths, curbs and other hard surfaces.
Climbing roses are deepened so that the root neck 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 autumn

For the successful rooting of roses planted in the autumn, it is important to properly care for them. Care includes the following activities:

Mulching prevents crusting of the soil surface after watering. Mulch retains moisture in the soil, on hot days it does not allow the roots to overheat, on cold days it does not freeze. For mulching use humus or peat, put a layer of 8-10 cm.
Loosening is used after watering and precipitation in the absence of mulch. The procedure also prevents crusting of the soil surface.
Shelter is placed after the establishment of regular autumn frosts. Agrofiber or spruce paws are used as a covering material.

If the autumn months are rainy, then you do not need to water the roses. Watering is carried out only in dry weather.

Possible problems

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

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

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

You can also store roses until spring in the basement, where the temperature is about 0 ° C, and plant them in a permanent place with the advent of heat.