Marianne's Response
tess10’s Question
I have 6 rosebushes on the south side of my greenhouse, with plenty of sun.Last spring I fertilized with rose fertilizer, bone meal,and alfalfa, plus enhanced the soil with steer grow. Not one of my roses grew from the height that I had pruned them. On digging up a few it looked like the roots were dying.
Should I give up roses, enhance the soil with mushroom compost and try another flower, such as Sweet Peas
Posted by tess10 on February 15, 2017
Marianne's Response
It sounds like something is going on with your rose roots so the easy answer is to plant something else. The south side of a building may be too warm for sweet peas depending on where you live and how hot the climate. Why not make this the year you plant a mixed flower garden in this spot and see what does best? Plant dahlias, branching sunflowers, rudbeckias, snapdragons and whatever else you like and see what grows best. I am predicting that plants like the perennial rudbeckias with thick, fleshy roots will thrive. You may also want to use the space for a cold frame that would offer early spring protection for young plants. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
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