V 

 LOCATION AND PREPARATION 



Every one cannot have an ideal location for roses, 

 yet given enough sunlight it is astonishing what fine 

 results may be obtained in a small bed bordering 

 on a path or road should no lawn space be available. 

 Too much shade will not give good results and the 

 roots of trees are very detrimental to rose growth. 

 Unless the trees overhang the beds, if you beheve 

 your plants will get direct sunlight at least half the 

 day — there being no other place available — the 

 chances are that your bed will succeed, but you must 

 protect the rose roots from the roots of the trees. 

 As a general rule a tree sends out roots in a circum- 

 ference the radius of which equals its height, but the 

 roots near the outer edge of the circumference are 

 small and can be cut without injury to the tree; 

 nevertheless where tree roots once grew they will 

 come back again, and it is imperative that the roses 

 be protected from them. The simplest and cheapest 

 way is to line the outside of your rose bed with 

 boards, but as these rot it is only a question of time 

 before the tree roots will again force their way into 



the space reserved for the roses, so the boards must 



133 



