Rose planting techniques are not much different from those for any other perennial: Amend the soil with 2 to 3 inches of organic material such as compost; dig a hole 18 to 24 inches across and 14 to 18 inches deep; add 1/3 to 1/2 cup super phosphate (found in bags in garden stores), prune and separate the roots as needed, plop in the rose and backfill half the hole with soil, fill the hole with water, let it drain, top off the hole with the remaining soil and water well.
Fertilizer is a thorny issue among rose growers. “There is no universally accepted fertilizer for roses,” according to “Growing Roses in Colorado,” a guide by The Denver Rose Society.
Local rose societies endorse Mile-Hi Rose Feed, an organic fertilizer specifically formulated for Colorado. It’s available at nurseries; check milehirosefeed for locations.
Vicky Uhland
