Can I Grow Roses in Raised Beds?

Nothing says summer quite like roses (Rosa spp.) in full, glorious bloom. Small or large, climbing or shrub, single-hued or bicolored blooms, roses have been favorite flowering plants for thousands of years. These showy, versatile plants vary in their cold-hardiness, but, in general, roses are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 11. Not only can you grow roses in raised beds, you probably should.

Proper Drainage

Roses need well-drained soil, and one way to ensure they get it is to plant them in raised beds. Overly wet soil is deadly for roses because they are susceptible to fungal diseases that damage or rot their roots. Raised flowerbeds tend to drain much better than ground-level beds. Fill an 18-inch hole with water, and see how long it takes to drain. If it has drained completely six hours later, then the soil drains well enough to grow roses.

Other Benefits

Even if your garden soil has excellent drainage, raised beds are still beneficial for roses. Tending plants is easier in raised beds than ground-level gardens because you don't have to bend quite as far. Raised beds also keep roses a little warmer than ground-level gardens. Cold air tends to gather in slight depressions, and those frost pockets can weaken certain rose species and varieties. Raising rose beds improves the airflow around the plants, too, cutting down on the chances of fungal diseases developing on flowers and foliage.

Location and Light

Raised beds won't benefit your roses if they aren't located properly. Roses need full sunlight. A minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day is necessary for their good growth and blooming. All-day sun is better, but if you can't manage that, then ensure your roses receive morning sunlight to dry dew from their leaves and reduce the chances of fungal diseases. Don't locate your raised beds under trees or near a building that will cast shade on the beds. A location near a short fence or other structure that provides some protection from wind without casting shade onto the roses is ideal.

Construction and Size

The length and width to make your raised beds depends on their location and how many rose bushes you want to plant in them, but their depths should be consistent. Dig to a depth of 10 to 12 inches, and then build the beds upward until each bed's total depth -- from the top of the bed to its bottom -- is about 22 inches. If you use landscape timbers, that depth would equal about three timbers. If you want to grow miniature roses, the total depth should be 15 inches. Fill each raised bed with rich soil that has a pH level of 6.0 to 7.0.

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