Learn the Secret to Bigger and Better Roses
Grow beautiful roses using both ordinary and unusual soil amendments
Noelle Johnson
May 26, 2021
I’ve had a love affair with roses since I was a little girl, when I used to help my dad take care of the rosebushes in our Southern California front yard. Now that I have my own garden with more than 40 rosebushes, I’ve learned that adding a few ordinary amendments, as well as a couple of unexpected ones, to the soil will maximize roses’ health and blooms.
Marmalade Skies rose
Rosebushes do best in fertile soil. Without it, the blooms will be small and few. Thankfully, creating fertile soil for roses is easy, and this will result in more roses with larger blooms. In addition, many of the amendments will help keep the soil pH at or near neutral, which is also best for roses.
When to Fertilize Roses and Add Soil Amendments
It’s helpful to note that fertilizer is considered a soil amendment. The first application of granular fertilizer generally is done in early spring and may be repeated in midsummer (early fall in USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone).
Rosebushes do best in fertile soil. Without it, the blooms will be small and few. Thankfully, creating fertile soil for roses is easy, and this will result in more roses with larger blooms. In addition, many of the amendments will help keep the soil pH at or near neutral, which is also best for roses.
When to Fertilize Roses and Add Soil Amendments
It’s helpful to note that fertilizer is considered a soil amendment. The first application of granular fertilizer generally is done in early spring and may be repeated in midsummer (early fall in USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone).
Purple Rain rose
Fertilizers and Soil Amendments That Help Create Fertile Soil for Roses
Compost, aged steer manure and organic rose fertilizer are the most common amendments. These three somewhat ordinary ingredients will help produce lovely roses. If you want to go even further, also add alfalfa pellets and Epsom salt.
Fertilizers and Soil Amendments That Help Create Fertile Soil for Roses
Compost, aged steer manure and organic rose fertilizer are the most common amendments. These three somewhat ordinary ingredients will help produce lovely roses. If you want to go even further, also add alfalfa pellets and Epsom salt.
- Compost: Improves the texture of the soil, adds beneficial microorganisms and slowly releases nutrients.
- Aged steer (or chicken, horse or rabbit) manure: Contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as micronutrients. Like compost, it also helps to improve the texture of soil.
- Rose fertilizer: Specially formulated for the nutrient needs of roses, and releases nutrients more quickly than compost and manure. While there are synthetic rose fertilizers, organic rose fertilizers are a better choice since they also contribute to the health of the soil, slowly release nutrients over a long time and are not quickly leached away by water.
- Alfalfa pellets: Contain many things that roses like, including nitrogen, iron, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. They also have one ingredient in particular that roses go crazy for: triaconatol, which is an alcohol that is released as the alfalfa pellets break down. This alcohol stimulates more basal breaks that form new branches, leading to more roses. Alfalfa pellets can be found at your local feed store.
- Epsom salt: Has two minerals that are important for roses: magnesium and sulfate, which help promote chlorophyll production, resulting in healthy, dark green foliage. It also helps roses absorb nitrogen and phosphorus. Since this is the same Epsom salt that can help relieve your sore muscles, you can usually find it at your local drugstore.
Pink Double Knock Out rose
How Much Fertilizer and Soil Amendments to Add to Each Mature Rosebush
Mix 2 cups compost, 1 cup manure, 1 cup alfalfa pellets and ½ cup Epsom salt with the rose fertilizer. (Check the fertilizer bag for how much to add.) Cut the amounts in half for miniature roses, and for young rosebushes until two years after planting.
How Much Fertilizer and Soil Amendments to Add to Each Mature Rosebush
Mix 2 cups compost, 1 cup manure, 1 cup alfalfa pellets and ½ cup Epsom salt with the rose fertilizer. (Check the fertilizer bag for how much to add.) Cut the amounts in half for miniature roses, and for young rosebushes until two years after planting.
Distant Drums hybrid rose
How to Apply the Rose Fertilizer and Amendment Mixture
There are two ways you can apply this special rose mixture:
Shop for garden hoses on Houzz
How to Apply the Rose Fertilizer and Amendment Mixture
There are two ways you can apply this special rose mixture:
- Use the handle of a broom or shovel to make six to eight equally spaced holes around each rosebush, 6 to 8 inches deep, and then pour the mixture into each hole. This method is highly effective, as it gets the amendments right into the root zone, where it can be easily absorbed. Any leftover mixture can be sprinkled around the rosebush.
- Apply the amendment mixture around the base of the rosebush and lightly work it into the top 2 inches of soil.
Shop for garden hoses on Houzz
New Dawn climbing rose
You’ll see a dramatic difference in the number and size of the roses produced, as well as more attractive dark green foliage, if you apply this special rose mixture twice a year. Before you know it, your roses will be the envy of all your neighbors.
More on Houzz
See other gardening guides
Read more expert tips for growing roses
Work with a landscape designer near you
Shop for gardening tools
You’ll see a dramatic difference in the number and size of the roses produced, as well as more attractive dark green foliage, if you apply this special rose mixture twice a year. Before you know it, your roses will be the envy of all your neighbors.
More on Houzz
See other gardening guides
Read more expert tips for growing roses
Work with a landscape designer near you
Shop for gardening tools
Related Stories
Landscape Design
What Will We Want in Our Landscapes in 2024?
Discover seven trends that landscape designers predict homeowners will be bringing into their outdoor spaces this year
Full Story
Spring Gardening
8 Tips to Get Your Early-Spring Garden Ready for the Season
Find out how to salvage plants, when to cut back damaged branches, when to mulch and more
Full Story
Winter Gardening
How to Prune Your Fruit Trees in Winter
Garden chores may slow down this season, but pruning your fruit trees now means healthier plants that will produce more
Full Story
Winter Gardening
Get a Head Start on Planning Your Garden Even if It’s Snowing
Reviewing what you grew last year now will pay off when it’s time to head outside
Full Story
Landscape Design
Pros Share Their Top Plant Picks for a Low-Maintenance Yard
Landscape pros weigh in on the plants they’d use — and ones they’d avoid — to create an easy-care garden
Full Story
Landscape Design
10 Tips for Planting a Beautiful, Low-Maintenance Landscape
Landscape pros share their advice for planning a garden that’s easy to care for
Full Story
Gardening Guides
12 Gardening Ideas You Can Count as Resolutions
See how to set up your outdoor areas for more enjoyment next year and make them a bit more earth-friendly in the process
Full Story
Holidays
Last-Minute Ideas for Attractive Winter Container Designs
Create a welcoming holiday entryway with ideas from these 9 looks
Full Story
Winter Gardening
8 Tips for Keeping Your Houseplants Healthy in Winter
Reduce watering, stop fertilizing, move them into the light and more
Full Story
Fall Gardening
7 Reasons Not to Clean Up Your Fall Garden
Before you pluck and rake, consider wildlife, the health of your plants and your own right to relax
Full Story
Does anyone have advice on thrips? They are horrible this year!
When my roses have a problem , or any of my plants .... I prefer not to use pesticides because I am highly allergic to them I just cut the infected areas back. Or use some type of systemic product, they seem to work better in the long run than treating the leaves and stems per say.
orjr -We have had a terrible problem with black spot as well. We just used copper fungicide, and it took care of it in short order. Good luck!