How deep do rose roots grow?

7 years ago

Hi All-

Well, it's finally happening - the building of a new garden! I'm on to the conversation with the landscape contractor about clean, organic soil with no fertilizer or weed suppressant added (any tips appreciated) and I want to make sure the "good" dirt that's being brought in is deep enough. What is a general rule for space for rose root depth? Also, should there be some gravel at the bottom because the native soil is very alkaline and can get compacted?

Thanks!

Natalie

Featured Answer

BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Hi Natalie,

I love raised beds, and that looks like it will be a grand project that your roses will love! How big is the area, relative to the wheelbarrow, it looks huge!

1.My raised beds are mostly 14” high, and that’s enough for the roses to be happy.

2. Sulfur - I have extremely dense alkaline clay (they actually bake bricks out of it!), and I find you spread a generous helping of sulfur at the bottom, it will help with moisture absorption, acidity, and make the nutrients more available. Lowes has cheap garden sulfur 50lbs for $25. My soil is also nitrogen poor, but extremely phosphorus/potash rich, so I put a nitrogen rich organic fertilizer , such as milorganite, at the bottom

3. Fill it with a *soil*, such as a rich loam , not a compost. ( Soil contains silt and sand, compost is just organic matter). I made the mistake of using just compost on my 1st raised bed, it decomposed into a thin dense layer. My local soil company sells a ‘rose soil’, basically a rich heavy loam, that was perfect

Please post pics of the progress!

My roses are very happy in their raised beds, I’m sure yours will love them, too.

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Comments (7)

towandaaz
Original Author
7 years ago
Ben! Wow! How beautiful! Amazing!

The whole project is around 50' x 90'. I have 90 roses now so I tried to over plan the new garden so I'd have plenty of room.

Each concrete block is 8" so the raised beds vary and I just want to make sure the planting depth is good. Sulfur and Millorganite, huh? Great tip and so appreciated.

I'll call the soil company and see if they have a "rose soil" mix. I didn't think of that.

Again Ben, thank you for your tips and experience.
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altorama Ray
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Ben your gardens are beautiful. How did you make the stone walls?

Alida
lkayetwvz5
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Love your beds - Ben T I don't recognize the stone either. Maybe something from a local landscaper? My early raised beds are all straight lines and angles. I don't do stonework or do it well, I only have one surround that is a single layer of rocks I picked up along the road construction one summer until they fenced it off. Those rocks that look the perfect size are HEAVY! I could barely hang on to them and roll them into the back of my pickup. I want to put in a new center island without using that black edging but the wall blocks get pricey from the big box store.
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
7 years ago
Hi Alida and lkayet....the stone is a native Texas white limestone. It’s probably the most common stone in my local area. Oh no, I didn’t do it myself or it’d still be just a pile of rocks! It is commonly available in pre-cut big ’bricks’. My landscape guy digs a shallow trench fills it with concrete and puts the stones on top, using mortar between the pieces. I chose the shape to be rounded like many swimming pools....it’s in the front of my house, and one little old lady said that when she was invited to the pool party, she’d have to wear a one piece, lol!
rifis (zone 6b-7a NJ)
7 years ago
towandaaz: BenT began to touch on an answer to your request for tips on “good dirt” in point 3 of his reply. For additional thought on the matter from other knowledgeable people, I recommend you cross post this in the Soil Compost and Mulch forum. Good advice on compaction/drainage issues are also available there ( in addition to here).

Is your new site in the foothills of some arid western state?
towandaaz
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi Rifis, thanks for that tip - will do. Appreciated.

Yes, I'm in Sedona, Arizona.