How to Landscape a Rose Garden
- 1). Clean out all the weeds and debris from your 10-by-15 area.
- 2). Level the area with a steel garden rake. Rake first lengthwise and then widthwise. This will guarantee a level grade to start with.
- 3). Dig the middle rose hole with a round nose shovel first and measure with the tape measure 2 feet from the front and 7 1/2 feet from either side. Make your hole 2 to 3 inches bigger than the can all the way around.
- 4). Dig the next rose hole and measure 5 feet from the front and 3 feet to the left of the middle rose. Notice the roses will not be in a line but when finished will be staggered.
- 5). Dig the last hole and measure 5 feet from the front and 3 feet to the right of the middle rose.
- 6). Remove the roses from the can. If they are stuck in the can, place the rose on its side and place your foot on the can, gently pushing down on it. Then place the rose up right and gently pull. The rose now slides out.
- 7). Gently massage each root ball's sides and bottom. This is done because the roots are all in one direction from being in the can and by massaging them you spread roots to go in all directions for vigorous root development.
- 8). Place two to three handfuls of mulch in each hole, making sure this does not raise the crown or base of the plant above the grade. You might have to place a rose in each hole to check the level.
- 9). Place all three roses in their respective holes. Surround each rose with mulch, mixing the backfill soil in with mulch as you backfill the hole. Work in the mulch with your hand.
- 10
Compact the soil around the three roses and water the roses in. - 11
Dig small 4-inch holes with your hand with each hole 3 inches apart. These holes will be for the alyssum, a low-growing border plant.The alyssum will go on three sides of the perimeter. None is needed on the house side. - 12
Plant the alyssum, mixing some mulch with backfill as you did the roses. Pat the soil around each small plant. - 13
Place your bird bath 2 to 3 feet behind the middle rose. Check the level of the bird bath with a level. - 14
Use a wheelbarrow and a shovel to spread 1 yard of redwood bark mulch throughout the area. This ground cover will keep weeds from growing.