Rio Samba Rose Tree

1. Planting:  Select a well-drained planting site in full sun (at least 6 hours per day). Dig a hole twice as wide and twice as deep as the root ball. Backfill the soil until you have a hole the same size or slightly larger than the container the rose is in.

Plant the rose at the same depth as it is in the container. Mulch around the base of the tree to conserve moisture.

To container plant, select a pot that’s twice the size of your tree’s shipped container and ensure it has drainage holes. Then use organic soil mix and place your tree in its pot. Put your planted tree in a sunny area outside.

2. Watering:  Water around the roots rather than overhead, and water about once or twice weekly. If you’re not sure when to water, simply check the surrounding soil about 3 inches down. If the soil is dry, water until the ground is moist, or water container trees until you see water escaping the drainage holes.

Roses will need supplemental watering to support heavy blooming during the growing season.

3. Fertilizing: Feed with a rose fertilizer once a month during the growing season.

4. Pruning: In late winter, prune off any damaged or diseased stems. The overall height can be cut back by half, and the oldest and thickest branches should be cut back to the ground.