| What type of soil mixture must I replant my roses bushes in? One of my bush 14 years old had a large hold 1 ft. under it; is this normal? I want to replant my rose bushes in great soil, maybe I get blooms on my non-blooming bush. Will replanting roses in good soil (what type) will help better growth? Thank you, Geneva |
| Roses usually grow well in Phoenix, inspite of the hot summer weather. They seem to flower a little better if they are given some afternoon shade. It isn't normal to find a large hole beneath the rootmass of your rose bush. It could be that the soil has eroded due to the water table or it might be that when the rose was originally planted a large amount of organic matter was dumped into the hole. The organic matter could decompose slowly, leaving a hole where soil should be. Whatever the cause, you'll want to try to avoid this in the future. I mix native soil with a 50/50 mix of compost or aged-manure for my rose bed. Dig a generous hole to plant your rose a foot wider but just slightly deeper than the root system. Mix organic matter into the soil and then place a little at the bottom of the hole to form a mound. Drape the rose roots over this mound and backfill the hole, gently tampiing the soil down as you go. When the rosebush is planted, water it deeply to help settle the soil. If you provide late afternoon shade (from about 3 p.m. on) your roses will bloom a little better for you. Good luck with your roses! |
