I'm no huge expert as this is my first year taking care of roses... but this cultivar sounds like it was designed to be hardy and easy to take care of, so don't worry too much! I have used Neptune's Harvest regular fish fertilizer before (organic, local company) -- it's a wide use fertilizer, not specific to roses (I confess to a vast lack of knowledge about the different types of fertilizer and often do not fertilize at all!). Being a liquid, you can put some at the base before rain or watering and it will work down into the soil quickly. It's a bit over $10 for a small bottle IIRC and I've bought it at Mahoney's in the past. I'm not sure it's required that you fertilize throughout the year, either (you could fertilize after planting, and then towards the end of summer and springtime after that).
I'm guessing the instructions ask you to mix peat moss or compost in with the soil when planting so that the roots can more easily grow (more air because the soil gets broken up more when mixing in another material, versus just packing it back in). Compost would add in more organic matter to the soil, or you could just use the existing soil you dug out (just break it up so it's not so chunky before you fill in around the plant).
Mulching helps prevent weeds around the base and to hold in moisture. Cedar chips are very common and one bag will run you a few bucks.
My experience this year in caring for a rosebush that hadn't been pruned the entire time the previous owners lived here (7 years) after the harsh winter, as well as planting a hybrid of my own (also prohibited from asexual reproduction of plant without license!) is that these roses are hardy sons-of-bitches and don't require much attention. :) This is a great time of year to plant because the ground is already warm. I bet your new plant will do just fine. :)
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2004-07-26 07:55 am (UTC)I'm guessing the instructions ask you to mix peat moss or compost in with the soil when planting so that the roots can more easily grow (more air because the soil gets broken up more when mixing in another material, versus just packing it back in). Compost would add in more organic matter to the soil, or you could just use the existing soil you dug out (just break it up so it's not so chunky before you fill in around the plant).
Mulching helps prevent weeds around the base and to hold in moisture. Cedar chips are very common and one bag will run you a few bucks.
My experience this year in caring for a rosebush that hadn't been pruned the entire time the previous owners lived here (7 years) after the harsh winter, as well as planting a hybrid of my own (also prohibited from asexual reproduction of plant without license!) is that these roses are hardy sons-of-bitches and don't require much attention. :) This is a great time of year to plant because the ground is already warm. I bet your new plant will do just fine. :)