raised bed construction

Why Raised Beds for Roses?

• Better Drainage– Roses hate “wet feet”.

• Solves soil issues– You control what soil mix goes in

• Better Roses– Larger Blooms– Fewer diseases– Fewer Pests

Building Materials

• Use Treated Lumber– 12’ x 10” x 2” w/ 6’ inside connection

• Rebar– ½” cut into 30” lengths for stability

• Alternate materials:– Landscaping blocks stacked 3 high.

2 – 3 inches of River Sand

Sand promotes good drainage

Sand should be smooth level

Ingredients for a good rose bed

• ¼ Horse Manure

• ¼ Mushroom Compost

• ¼ Sifted Topsoil

• ¼ good bedding material

+ + +=

Add ingredients & mix well. Fill to top plus 1” to allow for settling

Removing Roses from the pot

• Using a box cutter– Cut a slit from the top down

to a drain hole– Go over one hole and cut

back to the slit plus one drain hole.

– Putting one hand between the bottom of container and rose bush, lift out and set in the hole prepared.

Time To Plant

• Roses should be 13” from the side and 32” or 33” apart in the bed.

• Dig at least 1” deeper than the pot

• Fill holes with water and allow to drain

• Add one handful of bone meal

• Add 1” of dirt on top of that

• Plant roses to be even with the top of the bed.

Planting Time

Planting Time

Irrigation System Install

Installing the Irrigation System

• ½” flexible tubing

• ¼” flexible tubing to a single bush

• Using a srubber from Drip Works next to the rose bush you get a 12” circle of water to soak into the ground.

Adding Mulch

• Apply a thick layer of mulch– Will help retain moisture– Keeps the soil cool– Helps prevent weeds

The Result

Use Quality Roses

• You get what you pay for.

• Why plant a $1 rose in a $50 hole?

• I have found K & M roses to be the best in quality.