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Prepare possibly diseased soil for new roses
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Posted by
DarcyWronk none (
My Page) on
Sat, Nov 17, 12 at 14:36
| I had a lovely rose bush (not sure what kind) in a small plot (about 5'x3') in my back yard for 7 years. My cat took to the area as a place to pee and within a few months the rose bush died. I know now that I should have flushed the soil. I believe that the cat urine was the cause for the bush's death, but I'm not sure. The canes have turned black and no amount of antifungal seemed to help. Anyway, I have given up on this rosebush and am planning on planting a couple of new ones in that area in the spring. What can/should I do to prepare the soil. I don't know if there is a disease in the soil. Is there something I can do to be sure? Thank you for any advice. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Prepare possibly diseased soil for new roses
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- Posted by hoovb z9 Southern CA (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 17, 12 at 17:21
| Cat pee is strong ammonia which would burn nearly any plant, but it breaks down fast so I would not worry about the soil. In fact, a lot of added ammonia probably helped it. I would put down a thick layer of compost on top of the soil and let it sit all winter and in spring the soil should be fine. In spring Push enough of the compost aside to dig the hole, and plant. Then push the compost back, but leave a few inches of bare soil around the base of the plant. I am assuming you get precipitation of some sort, either rain or snow, in reasonable amounts between now and spring. |
RE: Prepare possibly diseased soil for new roses
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| We have 3 male cats and they like to scent mark over each other's spots. Cats are strong habit formers and like to return to the same places. A wooden fence that is knee high might deflect the spraying of males. For female kitties, you can try to put a bag of soft planting mix somewhere you want her to use instead. Kitties love soft planting mix to dig in. If you water well, the soil should be fine by spring. Try to plant a big plant or grow one in a big pot sitting on the spot until its big enough to handle life with the cats. Another strategy is planting herbs the cats don't care for around the rose. Mine seem to avoid pots of mint and lavender. |
RE: Prepare possibly diseased soil for new roses
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| Thanks for the advice. I did put up a little fence around the area so the cat can't get in there anymore, so it's just a matter of making sure the soil is ok for next spring. Thank you all. Much appreciated. |
RE: Prepare possibly diseased soil for new roses
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| If you want to trade out the soil it couldn't hurt. Most plants appreciate some fresh soil and if you had a rose for a long time there, there could be some rose disease or dead rose roots which might give the new rose a slow start. I like to replace soil when I replant roses even if the rose I removed wasn't sick. Then you have peace of mind. Digging a big hole and putting some great soil in it is the best way to start a rose. |
RE: Prepare possibly diseased soil for new roses
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| The problem would be excess salt and excess nitrogen in the soil. Both will be washed away by heavy rainfall or irrigation, enough to saturate the soil 12" deep and then some more to carry the salt into the deeper soil. This is assuming your subsoil is not impervious to drainage. |
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