Rose earth: mix your own earth for roses

Mixing the substrate for roses yourself is not difficult. Only a few tools and components that are easy to obtain are necessary.

Needs of roses

When roses are replanted, they place certain conditions on the soil in which they are planted. In the place where the roses are to be planted, there should not have been any roses beforehand, on the one hand the earth is depleted and on the other hand diseases could spread. The rose needs a well-drained soil that does not dry out too quickly and is rich in humus and nutrients. Only then does the rose grow and bloom particularly persistently and profusely. The correct pH is either neutral or slightly acidic.

The new substrate

Of course the soil can be exchanged, it is easier to look for a new place and only improve the substrate at this. The situation is different with roses that are planted in pots. This substrate is completely remixed if you don't want to buy rose soil or just use any kind of potting soil.
Composition of rose earth

Commercially available rose earth consists of different components, which depend on the respective manufacturer. Mostly included are:

• Compost or peat
• volume
• fertilizer
• Minerals

Note: Mycorrhizal fungi are some

Rose earth added. They are supposed to improve the nutrient uptake of the roses.

Mix the rose earth yourself

Making potting soil suitable for roses is not difficult. All you have to do is mix the necessary ingredients together in the right proportions. There are, however, various options, depending on whether you are dealing with potted plants or bed roses.

With or without fertilizer?

It seems natural to fertilize roses when planting them. Purchased rose soil almost always contains a long-term fertilizer that supplies the flowers with nutrients over several weeks.
However, it is not that easy to say whether this makes sense. A rose that you plant yourself should first and foremost grow well and a large one Form roots, which the plant with nutrients and water even in lean and dry times can supply. For this reason, it is better not to fertilize the rose plant or to fertilize it only a little at first, then the roots have to grow longer and more branched in search of nutrients.

Work equipment

What is necessary to manufacture the substrate depends on the amount that is mixed. A bucket is enough for individual roses. If an entire rose bed is to be equipped with new substrate or if there are many balcony plants, a larger masonry tub is required

Do service. Other necessary work equipment:

• Shovel or hand shovel
• something to mix, for example a stick or an old wooden spoon
• Measuring cup, scale or smaller vessel to measure individual components

Individual components and their meaning

Topsoil or garden soil

There is enough normal garden soil in almost every garden, unless it is a completely new plant. Then topsoil can be obtained from various sources, such as a garden center. The top layer of soil is simply used in your own garden.

Clay or loam

Since sandy soil stores nutrients and water poorly, it is upgraded with clay or loam. In the case of loamy soils, it is not necessary to add additional clay. There is loam soil from building material suppliers.

Small grain bark mulch

To improve the soil structure, bark mulch can be helpful, especially if the soil is rather calcareous and needs to be acidified. It is important that the mulch has a very small grain size. Bark mulch is available at sawmills or in specialist gardeners.

compost

Well-rotted compost or manure gives the plants the necessary nutrients. They are released evenly over a longer period of time. Compost soil is best obtained from your own garden. Public composting plants are an alternative.

Rock flour

Primary rock flour improves the mineral composition and strengthens the plants. Rock flour is available from garden centers or online retailers.

lime

Adding lime only makes sense if the pH value is in the low range and the soil is too acidic for roses. You can buy lime in hardware stores or gardeners.

Instructions for making pail soil

1. The main component is garden soil or topsoil, which is filled into a bucket or a larger container.
   
2. One part of compost or rotted manure is mixed with three parts of garden soil.
   
3. Substances for soil improvement, i.e. clay or lime, are now incorporated. Here, too, one part to three parts of garden soil.
   
4. So much bark mulch is added that the soil gets a loose, airy structure. The bark mulch improves the water storage capacity.
   
5. Finally, mix all of the rose earth with a little rock flour. Since minerals only need to be present in traces, two tablespoons per 10 liter bucket are sufficient.
   
6. The self-made substrate is filled into the tub and the roses are used.

Instructions for floribunda roses

It is a bit more time-consuming to make your own potting soil for floribunda roses, but it can be done directly on site. The effort is worthwhile, as the roses are then supplied with minerals and nutrients for a long time.

1. The size of the rose bed is marked out and the mother earth dug. Since the planting holes for roses must be deep enough so that the roots are not kinked, a depth of up to 40 cm can be assumed.
   
2. Spread a tarpaulin next to the bed and pile the topsoil on it.
   
3. Mix the garden soil with compost. Here, too, the rough mixing ratio is one part of compost to three parts of garden soil.
   
4. Loosen the substrate of the bed and mix it with bark mulch. If the bed is threatened by voles, it makes more sense to spread rabbit wire on the substrate. The bark mulch is then mixed into the topsoil.
   
5. If necessary, incorporate soil conditioner and some rock flour.
   
6. Put the roses in the bed. Fill the soil all around and press down a little. Finally, water the roses well.

Note: If other plants are planned in the rose bed, they are planted together with the roses.