PROXIMITY OF LARGE PLANTS

Articles In This Section:

· WHY ROSES FAIL

· AIR POCKETS

· DEEP PLANTING

· MANURING AT PLANTING TIME

· DRY ROOTS

· EXCESSIVE ACIDITY OR ALKALINITY

· INADEQUATE DRAINAGE

· ROSE-SICK SOIL

· EXCESSIVE MANURING

· FROSTS

· SHADE

· PROXIMITY OF LARGE PLANTS

· HEAVY PRUNING

· ARTESIAN WATER

When roses and shrubs or trees of large types are all planted at the same time and in proximity to one another they all develop their root systems at the one time, and usually they all do well. If the roses or small shrubs are later removed and replaced by others, the new plants seldom prosper. This is because the root systems of the established plants vigorously invade the areas formerly occupied by the discarded plants, and the new plants are starved. This incursion is, in fact, encouraged by any new soil used and by extra watering of the new plants. Often one sees a row of roses planted in front of a row of shrubs. They do very well, but in five, ten, or even fifteen years there comes a decision to replace some of them with newer or more favoured varieties. The new plants never do well. It may be possible to lessen this cause of failure by cutting back the roots of the shrubs and trees on that side by several feet.