Content

• To step

Roses add color and fragrance to any garden, but to get the most out of these plants you need to understand how to prepare the soil for roses. The best soil to use for roses is loam. About half of loam consists of air and water, along with sand, salty clay and organic material. You will need to learn exactly what soil you have and how to adapt it to get the most out of your roses.

To step

1. Determine your soil type and make adjustments to obtain a loamy mixture.
   • Clay soil will retain water, but it does not drain well. It is usually very alkaline and will require a lot of organic matter to be added to it. Adding plaster can improve clay soil and ensure good drainage.
   • Sandy soil will drain well but requires frequent watering. It will also have to be enriched with organic matter.
   • Highly organic soil is usually very acidic and will have both good drainage and good water retention. You can add lime to increase the pH value.
   EXPERT TIP

   "The best thing to do for soil is to add about 20-30% good compost and mix it through the top layer."

   
   

   Add a lot of organic matter to the soil. You can buy compost from garden centers or use grass clippings from your garden. Plow this into the ground in the fall or in the spring as soon as you can work the soil. Preparing the soil for your rose garden in the fall will allow the organic matter to decompose throughout the winter.

2. Plow and aerate your soil every season. For new rose beds, you can use a plow machine to plow the soil in the fall and spring. If you already have roses, you can plow the soil around the rose bush and loosen the roots as best you can, but be careful not to damage the rose bush.
3. Make sure the soil for your roses is dry and friable when you start improving it. Grab a handful of soil and squeeze it. Soil that is too moist will clump and soil that is too dry will crumble.
4. Check that your soil has good drainage by digging a hole 12 inches deep and filling it with water. The water should be gone in about 15 minutes. If it takes longer than 15 minutes or if it drains too quickly, you may still need to make adjustments.
5. Make sure the soil you will be planting your roses in has a pH of about 6.5. This is slightly acidic. You usually find this soil in forests.
   • Test your soil with a home kit or send a sample to a testing lab near you.
   • You can increase the pH of your soil by adding lime when the soil is too acidic. If the soil is too alkaline, you can add garden sulfur. If your roses are growing poorly and the leaves are turning yellow, this could indicate that your soil is too alkaline.
6. Consider other additives such as bone meal, blood meal or NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). A ratio of 1: 2: 1 is best.
   • Phosphorus helps roses bloom. Avoid too much nitrogen as this will increase foliage growth and reduce blooms.
   • Alfalfa pellets, epsom salt, fish emulsion or manure are also good additions to the soil and will help your roses thrive.
7. Take the shortcut and use a bag of good quality potting soil to plant your roses in. This can be expensive if you are creating a large rose garden, but the soil will already be worked and will help you get the best out of your roses.