Gardening tips | Before planting
Preparation of the soil
It's easy to grow roses. Thoroughly prepare the soil 2 or 3 weeks before planting them so that the earth has time to settle properly. Remove the roots of weeds along with any stones or other debris. Scatter fertiliser over the surface then dig it in deeper.
Choosing a fertiliser
Mineral fertilisers :
You may use total fertiliser. This contains the three elements vital for plant growth: nitrogen (N), phosphoric acid (P) and potassium (K). Always stick to the doses recommended on packaging to avoid "burning" your plants.
Organic fertilisers :
Dried or granulated manure, compost, ground bones, seaweed. are all fertilisers which do not have a stable and balanced NPK formula. It is therefore preferable not to use them on their own but to complement a mineral fertiliser. Certain manufacturers even produce universal fertilisers which combine mineral and organic fertilisers and are very easy to use.
Never place organic fertiliser in direct contact with roots to avoid burning them. Try and use a fertiliser rich in phosphoric acid and potassium in autumn and a nitrogen-rich formula in spring.
Improving the soil type
In some cases, it can be useful to improve your soil by adding correctors which should be mixed with the soil when it is forked over.
Soil Disadvantages Fertilisers
Clay soil Impermeable, heavy, sticky when damp and hard when dry. Add coarse sand, peat, compost and horticultural limestone if the soil is not already chalky.
Sandy soil Dries out too quickly, does not retain fertilising elements. Add humus in the form of compost, black peat, manure.
Chalky soil Lacks fertilising elements, dry in summer, muddy when it rains, makes many plant species go yellow. Mix 200 to 300 g of sulphur per sq. m. with the soil. Add peat or compost.
Humus-rich soil Acid, often damp, many of the fertilising elements cannot be assimilated. Neutralise the acidity by adding horticultural limestone. Drain if necessary.
Dig your garden
Soil should be dug over to a depth of about 40 or 50 cm for planting roses. Make sure all the fertilisers scattered on the surface are thoroughly mixed with the earth.