How to Plant a Rosemary Bush

Weed an area with good-draining soil. Rosemary bushes grow best in poor, sandy soil and dry conditions. Do not locate your rosemary bush in an area with constantly wet soil, because it promotes root rot in rosemary plants. Check the light in the area to make sure that it receives 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Loosen the soil with a shovel to the depth of 12 inches. Break up the dirt clumps and remove large rocks. Dig a hole that is the same depth as the rosemary bush root ball. Tip the bush on its side and squeeze the container's sides. Gently shake the rosemary bush into the palm of your hand.

Place the root ball in the hole and fill the hole with soil. Pack the soil in around the root ball to hold the plant in place. If planting more than one rosemary bush, space them at least 6 inches apart, depending on the size of the variety.

Pour water around the base of the rosemary bush until the water soaks down to the bottom of the rosemary root ball. Keep the soil moist until new growth begins at the tip of the rosemary branches. Water only once a week once the plant is established.

Spread a 2-inch layer of organic mulch around the root area of the rosemary bush. Use straw, shredded bark or wood chips to reduce weed growth and excessive moisture evaporation.