Test to see if pH is the problem before reaching for chemical boosters that could harm the complex system of organisms that live in the soil
The fertilizer industry inundates us with long lists of countless “must-use” products for roses. The accompanying directions call for dizzyingly frequent applications that cost a lot and take a major commitment and toll on our time. Can we do more harm than good if we overuse fertilizers? How much do we really need?
Dutiful rosarians add fertilizers to our soil frequently throughout the year. Some of us add a lot. Some of us apply high phosphorus fertilizers, which are said to help roses produce more blooms. Fertilizers increase nutrient levels, but the application of unnecessary amounts of fertilizers can affect the health of our soil, the health of the myriad creatures underground and their contributions to our soil. High concentrations of chemical fertilizers add salts to our soil.
Three years ago, I did a soil test and the soil results showed that I had excessive amounts of phosphorous and potassium in my soil. This, even though none of the organic products I used contain high amounts of these nutrients. It was a matter of accumulating too much phosphorous and potassium year after year until I had an excess. Our soil and the millions of organisms that inhabit our soil are so complex.
‘Love Song’ is a very disease-resistant floribunda rose hybridized by Tom Carruth. It has old-fashioned, ruffled lavender blooms that have a medium citrus fragrance.Sending a soil sample to a soil laboratory is simpler and less costly than it sounds. I have used A&L Great Lakes Labs — 483-4759 — for the last three years. It is an independently owned and operated agricultural testing laboratory located in Fort Wayne, Ind.
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