How to Take Care of Rosemary Plants

Choose a full sun planting locale and prepare soil to rosemary's optimal requirements which is a rich, well-drained soil with a slightly alkaline pH that falls between 7 and 7.8. If you have any doubts about the pH of your soil, have it tested and make adjustments from there. Raise the pH alkalinity, if needed, by adding hydrated lime. To raise the pH one point, add 4 ounces of hydrated lime for every square yard in sandy soils, 8 ounces for loamy soils, 12 ounces in clay soils and 25 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in soils with heavy peat moss component.

Dig out a hold for your Rosemary that is twice the diameter and at least 25 percent deeper than the rootball. Slide the rosemary gently out of its pot while leaning it on its side. Loosen the out roots so that they are not circling the root ball and are primed to grow out into the soil.

Place the plant into the hole and add soil under the rootball as needed so the established soil level on the plant is even with the new surrounding soil. Backfill soil around the root ball, ensuring good soil and root contact. Use your palm or foot to firm the soil.

Water the new rosemary planting well and monitor carefully over the first few weeks, ensuring that the soil is moist an inch down into the soil.

Fertilize your rosemary plant a few weeks after planting with a water-soluble, general-purpose fertilizer and repeat two to three times per year or as needed.

Prune your rosemary with sharp, clean secateurs or shears as necessary to control its size and shape. Significant annual pruning back to the crown can control legginess and return a more lush shape to your rosemary plant.