Drift roses are one of the greatest accessories you can have in your landscape.
Don’t let their small size fool you! They are beautiful, versatile, and can fit everywhere in your garden.
Drift roses can be used in your landscape from roses over walls to mass planting.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the many ways you can use drift roses in your landscape, as well as helpful information on planting drift roses.
5 Ways To Use Drift Roses In Your Landscape
Drift roses are one of the most popular landscape plants because they are so easy to care for and they provide beautiful color all season long.
Here are five ways that you can use drift roses in your landscape:
1. Borders
Utilizing drift roses as a border is extremely helpful, especially if you want to separate different sections of your landscape.
Rose borders divide separate areas in a stylish way.
They act as a natural fence without having to pay the high cost of building an actual fence.
2. Ground Covers
Because of their low-lying growth pattern, you can use drift roses as a ground cover for your landscape.
If you have empty spaces in your landscape that you are unsure how to fill out, then drift roses can add a touch of beauty to otherwise barren gaps in your garden.
3. Containers
Drift roses look great in planters and containers, both on their own and as part of mixed arrangements.
They can add color and interest to any patio or deck, and they’re also a good choice for shady areas where other plants might struggle.
Many plant owners place drift roses in pots to liven up a patio or a balcony.
Might we suggest planting your drift roses in a hanging container so the small branches of gracefully drape over the edge of the pot.
4. Roses Over Walls
Drift roses can also be planted over walls.
This will add a touch of greenery and spruce up a basic exterior wall, or even a fence.
5. Mass Planting
Drift roses are incredibly gorgeous and can be mass planted on their own.
Mass planting drift roses will yield a solid landscape of flourishing drift roses.
When mass planting your roses, however, there are a few things to keep in mind, such as spacing and site preparation.
Planting Drift Roses
Planting Drift Roses is one of the best ways to quickly add color and beauty to your yard.
Here are some tips on how to plant them:
When To Plant Drift Roses
Drift roses can be planted during spring, summer, or fall.
Though be warned: if you are planting your drift roses in the summer, you should be extra cautious of transplant shock that can be exacerbated by the intense summer temperatures.
If you do choose to plant drift roses in the summer, please be sure to give your juvenile roses plenty of water in order to keep the bushes cool and comfortable as they try to establish in the heat.
How Many Drift Roses Can You Plant Together
While 3 to 5 drift roses tend to be the average amount you can plant together, it is entirely possible to plant more than 5 roses.
Of course, we advise gardeners to be mindful of appropriately spacing out their roses so as not to stifle their growth.
The minimum spacing for drift roses is 3 feet apart from the center, but for best long-term growth, 4 to 5 feet apart is ideal.
Site Preparation When Mass Planting
The two most important factors in preparing a site to mass-plant your drift roses are sun exposure and soil.
These are two major pieces of the puzzle when it comes to raising flourishing, healthy roses.
Sun Exposure
Choose a location in your landscape that receives abundant light.
Drift roses require a full day’s worth of sunlight, so make sure to place the roses in a location with at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day.
Soil Type
Curating the perfect soil mixture can seem complex, but it is the groundwork for fortified, healthy drift roses.
Pinpointing the ideal soil type is an essential contribution to the livelihood of your drift roses.
When mixing your roses’ soil keep these three attributes in mind: the ideal drift rose soil should be well-draining, organic, and slightly acidic.
We highly recommend testing a sample of your soil.
You can find inexpensive and accurate soil testing kits at your local garden retailer, as well as many online retailers.
Soil testing will allow you to detect both the pH and nutrient levels in the soil.
This will give you a clearer picture of what you need to add in order to properly amend your soil.
When a soil is described as “well-draining,” it means that the soil contains large, chunky materials that will amplify the air circulation.
A well-draining soil helps prevent the soil from compacting, which can suffocate the root system and trap unnecessary moisture.
This is absolutely crucial when planting your drift roses in containers.
Increase the drainage in your soil by including materials such as perlite or sand in your soil mixture.
While additional fertilization will be a necessary part of caring for drift roses, later on, you will need to give your plants an initial boost of nutrients by amending your soil with rich, organic material. (Here you will find when and how to fertilize drift roses)
Two to three weeks before transplanting your drift roses, we recommend applying compost or manure to your soil mixture.
Layer roughly 2 to 3 inches of compost and then work it into the ground until the compost is about 8 inches deep into the soil.
Drift roses prefer a slightly acidic soil, with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.5.
If your pH test shows that your soil is more alkaline, we recommend amending your soil with elemental sulfur.
How To Plant Drift Roses
Whether you’re planting drift roses in the ground or in containers, planting your roses is very easy and straightforward.
Follow these specified steps according to your situation:
How To Plant Drift Roses In the Ground
- Dig your hole and work the soil. The hole should be just slightly larger than the container your drift roses are in. Work the soil so that the soil is loose. A nice, aerated soil will be helpful when your drift roses’ root system begins to grow and develop. Loose soil allows for easier growth, whereas tightly compacted soil stifles the growth pattern.
- Take your drift roses out from their original container. Handle the roses as carefully as possible so as not to disrupt the juvenile roots. Some gardeners find lightly moistening the soil helps the root ball slide out easier. Using your hands, gently loosen the root ball to allow for easier growth.
- Plant your roses. Place the root ball in the hole, the base of the plant should be aligned with the soil. Fill the rest of the hole in and lightly moisten the soil.
How To Plant Drift Roses In Containers
- Prepare your containers. Fill the containers about halfway using the appropriate soil mixture. Please keep in mind that the soil should be well-draining, and the container of your choice must have several drainage holes at the bottom.
- Place your drift roses in the container. Remove the roses from the original container and use your hands to loosen up the root ball. Place the roses inside the container. You’ll want to make sure that the base of the rose plant lines up with the edge of the plant pot. Add or remove soil from the bottom if necessary to make sure they align.
- Fill in the rest of the container. Loosely fill in the remainder of the plant pot with the potting mix. Do not press the soil into the container, as this causes the soil to compact and become too heavy on the plants’ roots. Lightly moisten the soil to mitigate transplant shock.
Drift Roses Companion Plants
Drift roses tend to be compatible with a large number of other plants.
They work very well with other larger varieties of rose bush such as Grandifloras, hybrid tea roses, and at the base of climbing rose varieties.
In addition, they are highly compatible with other small flower breeds, for example, the Dianthus Firewitch and Osteospermum Lavender Mist.
When you are planting companion plants, it is important to note that you should always space your plants out properly to accommodate their mature size.
Overcrowding in the garden not only can stunt the growth of all of your plants, but it will look unpleasing from an aesthetic standpoint.
Overcrowded plants require more frequent pruning in order to prevent an unkempt appearance.
Conclusion
Drift roses are immeasurably beautiful, but that doesn’t mean they’re difficult to care for!
We’re sure you’ll find that owning drift roses is an easy and effective way to add a pop of color to your landscape.
With so many options to choose from, planting drift roses is the universal complement to any landscape.
