Lots of conflicting advice - I always thought you plant with bud union above ground level, but most advice now says 1-2" below. Except the RHS, which says it should be AT soil level. To prevent die back. How do you do yours?
I planted my first rose above, but all subsequent ones below. The first one’s graft union os pretty much subsumed by mulch now too. It does look neater too...
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Below for me to. For the reasons given by @Dovefromabove and also the "top" growth will put down their own roots too which eventually take over from the "rootstock"
Interesting the RHS advice, wonder what research they based that suggestion on...planted twelve roses this year all have done great, planted just below ground level.
There was a discussion about above or below on the rose season thread (p85-86).
The only benefit to planting the graft at or above ground level (see Marlorena’s post p86) was if you have heavy clay soil in a high rainfall area.
I did find it was easier and less spiky to clear up fallen leaves under my first, above ground rose (until it got buried by mulch) but that is not a good enough reason, really. i am now fully converted to burying.
The RHS advice does seem to be a bit outdated/contrary to the advice of most rose breeders...
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I left school and went to work in a garden centre in 1979 and it was still "leave the union above ground" , but it wasn't long after that "they" decided it was best to bury them.
..the RHS and rose nurseries give such generic, one size fits all advice to keep things simple, when there are a number of variables with roses... but most people buy modern types so they can afford not to be specific as they tend to be more reliable in performance... ...so targetted advice is rarely offered... but if I was planting a Gallica rose like 'Charles de Mills'... specie roses or cultivars from the Spinossisima and Rugosa suckering type groups, I would consider planting the graft above soil level.... Charles in particular will quickly make own roots and run... and run... to form a thicket... it's not something you would want to encourage... ...I no longer grow these types so I go a little below soil level, plus mulch...
...but if you want to take your pick, here's a nice selection...
Harkness roses.... soil level or above RHS = soil level Style Roses = above soil level David Austin Roses [website] = 2 inches below David Austin Rose Fertilizer packet = 3-4 inches below Peter Beales Roses = 1 inch below Trevor White Roses = 3 or 4 cms below
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For the reasons given by @Dovefromabove and also the "top" growth will put down their own roots too which eventually take over from the "rootstock"
I did find it was easier and less spiky to clear up fallen leaves under my first, above ground rose (until it got buried by mulch) but that is not a good enough reason, really. i am now fully converted to burying.
...so targetted advice is rarely offered... but if I was planting a Gallica rose like 'Charles de Mills'... specie roses or cultivars from the Spinossisima and Rugosa suckering type groups, I would consider planting the graft above soil level.... Charles in particular will quickly make own roots and run... and run... to form a thicket... it's not something you would want to encourage...
...I no longer grow these types so I go a little below soil level, plus mulch...
...but if you want to take your pick, here's a nice selection...
Harkness roses.... soil level or above
RHS = soil level
Style Roses = above soil level
David Austin Roses [website] = 2 inches below
David Austin Rose Fertilizer packet = 3-4 inches below
Peter Beales Roses = 1 inch below
Trevor White Roses = 3 or 4 cms below
...as you can see, not even DA are consistent..