I use a granular rose fertilizer branded CIL. A few years ago I used SmartCote for roses. The Miracle Grow that I like is the Ultra bloom which is mainly for the annuals, but when I spray, I do the entire garden

dirtdorphins said:In my area we have no magnesium deficiency but a large magnesium mine and plenty of salinity and wicked high pH (at least where I've had testing done to find out why everything is yellow and dying).
https://extension.usu.edu/htm/...
Some of my garden friends add iron--we have no shortage of that either but the plants have a hard time with uptake at the high pH so it helps a lot. For me, the miracle cure has been tons of organic matter.

We have very high pH here as well. Mid summer about 8.3 pH in tap water. Even though there is magnesium in the soil, the high pH messes up the plant's ability to uptake the nutrients

This is an excellent article on "salts" in the soil
http://jhbiotech.com/docs/Arti...

Joannabanana said:

We have very high pH here as well. Mid summer about 8.3 pH in tap water. Even though there is magnesium in the soil, the high pH messes up the plant's ability to uptake the nutrients

I get it--that's why I think the tons (literally) of organic material helps mine so much--makes the soil easier for the roots to grow in (lighter, loser, water can penetrate and drain) and drops the pH a just a titch so that the minerals already in abundance are more available to the plant, plus the bonus of additional nutrients. Of course, I have to keep adding it...

Okay, my soil is acidic (my hydrangea is blue), and azaleas and rhododendrons flourish. So... does that matter in terms of epsom salts for the rest of the garden? I'm definitely going to try this, especially since my roses will be new and in need of a boost. Thank you--never had I heard of it used for anything garden-related before!

The potting soil that I use is peat based with a pH of 6, so a little more acidic. Our soil & tap water in Calgary is very alkaline 7.5 to 8 pH. I do amend the soil with compost etc, otherwise it would be hard as a rock. I think the Epsom Salts make a huge difference for my garden, containers and in-ground planting.

I also add Epsom Salts around my tomatoes & peppers.

The only plant that isn't fond of ES is sage. It's fine for your hydrangeas.

Add some to the water when you soak the new roses as they arrive and use that water in the hole for them.

ES were discovered by a farmer in Epsom, England and he noticed his cows' sores healed faster but they didn't like the taste of the water - due to the Epsom Salt. It's been used for soaking feet, added to bathtubs to improve levels of magnesium (helps muscles relax) and in the garden.

Joannabanana said:
We have very high pH here as well. Mid summer about 8.3 pH in tap water.

Municipal water is normally in the 8.0-8.4 pH range.