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Creating A Rose Arbor
(HIT) - Few things are as beautiful and classic as an arbor covered in climbing roses. But, this breathtaking view does not happen over night, and actually takes considerable planning. Start preparing your garden now for an arbor covered in rambling roses to make a spring that’s worth the winter wait!
Before you start planning the location of your roses, you will first need the structure. While many people get excited about outdoor living in the early spring, and decide to buy their outdoor structures during these months, planning and buying an arbor or pergola in autumn actually makes much more sense. To make an arbor look at home in a landscape, the ground and area must have sufficient time to prepare.
Since you are planning to vine roses on your arbor, it is important to consider the type and material of your structure. For rose planting, cedar arbors are likely to work best. Cedar is one of the most durable outdoor woods available, as the naturally embedded oils resist rot, decay, as well as insect damage. Further, pine arbors often need to be painted or stained every year to preserve quality. This could become incredibly difficult as your roses begin to curl and bind to the wood. Cedar can be stained to preserve its appearance, but even without treatment cedar will stay strong and true. Wrought Iron is another durable material that works well for roses.
When deciding on the size of your arbor, consider the rose bushes you are planning to position around it. Putting two bushes on diagonally opposite posts, or planting one on each post, will provide the most even vining. Plan your arbor to be about a foot smaller on all sides than what you want your finished dimensions to be.
The best time to plant a rose bush is in the early autumn so the bush has enough time to develop before the unforgivably hot summer months. Buying and installing the arbor now will allow you to plant your rose bushes now, so they can be in full bloom in the spring. Ensure that you’ve chosen a vining variety; rambling roses will work incredibly well. Roses prefer partial sunlight, which an arbor can often provide.
Dig the hole to be large enough to give root systems plenty of room. The hole should be about two feet deep, with the center of the hole approximately 18-30 inches from the post of your arbor. Replace soil gently to ensure the roots are not damaged. Then, pack the soil by pressing it firmly to remove any air pockets that can dry out the roots. If you live in an especially cold climate, you may consider using mulch to insulate the roots over the winter. As the roses begin to grow, use flexible plant ties to attach the structural canes of the roses to your arbor. Leaving enough space for the canes to shoot off and expand, direct them in as horizontal of a direction as possible. As the roses continue to grow, simply prune canes that are headed in the wrong direction and remove branches that have broken and died.
Creating a picturesque arbor vined with roses takes planning and maintenance, but it is absolutely worth every effort. A gardener’s work is never done, no matter the season. Installing an arbor and planting a rosebush this autumn will ensure a beautiful spring! For a variety of arbors in cedar, wrought iron, and several other materials, visit the leading on-line supplier, CedarStore.com or call 1-888-293-2339. With some of the fastest lead and shipping times in the business, you could be installing your arbor within a week of ordering!
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