Mike ...
At first I did screened the rock out, too. This was my first in-ground garden and I didn't know what I was doing, so I made the novice error of digging rose holes instead of preparing a whole bed. Ooops.
Then when I planted the roses, because I knew there was no nutrients in the soil, I used plenty of compost. Another Ooops ! The compost decomposed and the roses sank. I mean really, really sank. That was the end of putting compost in the planting hole ...
Now, I use the native soil with larger rocks removed and mound it up so that when the soil around the root mass of the rose I am planting decomposes, the plant sinks to the level that I want it.
Over the years I've only put compost and mulch on top of the soil and now it is alive, but it is still not fertile. It takes time to build fertile soil, but I love the drainage and the fact that it holds moisture. When I planted bulbs last year, I just needed a trowel. I had no idea how effective just putting things on top of the soil would be to improve the friability of the soil.
This is the garden the proves Ralph Moore's comment that roses don't know the rules to be correct. I am totally amazed at how healthy the plants are and how well they do for me.
I still have a lot to learn and since I am not gardening in ideal conditions I am forced to keep on learning
Smiles,
Lyn
