Marianne's Response

How to plant antique roses in Southeast Indiana

I need to learn how to plant antique roses in Southeast Indiana. I used to live in New Orleans.

I, at the time, was a member of the N.O. antique rose society. The best thing about that was members would make starts from their bushes and we could purchase 3 roses that had a rooted start in styrofoam cups. That’s how I ended up with many varieties that I didn’t have.

Now I ordered a rose an I’m unclear how to prepare the soil for it. In N.O. I had to mix carpenters sand with soil because of the high water content in that area.I want my hoppy back! I have parkinsons disease which makes it difficult at times to use my hands.

Advice from you would be a wonderful thing and I do thank you and or your staff.

Sincerely,

Sandra Dufrene

Posted by sandra dufrene on March 29, 2015

Marianne's Response

I love the old roses and you will most likely find they love to grow in your new location. Your new home has dry summers and no humidity so no need to add sand to the planting hole. Instead improve your soil with compost, at least one half compost to one half regular soil. Then mulch the newly planted roses with more compost taking care not to let the compost pile up or touch the cane or stem of the new rose. I always mix Osmocote into the soil at planting time and then I use Osmocote in May around all my established roses and supplement with compost and a liquid plant food such as Miracle Grow after the first flush of blooms if it is a rose that will rebloom a second time. Enjoy the wonderful fragrance from your antique roses, and Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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