What Are the Treatments for a Rose Bush?

Rose Soil

• Rose plants thrive in rose soil. Choose a variety with a mix of compost, aged pine bark, iron-rich red sand, rice hulls, composted top soil and orange sand. Prepackaged rose soil or well-rotted manure, if you prefer, are available at local nurseries. Crumble the soil with your hands before applying to help water to pass through to the root system more quickly.

Fertilizer

• Once your plant starts to leaf out, add a fertilizer with at least 14 percent nitrogen. A balanced fertilizer containing both time-release and soluble nitrogen is best after each flush of blooms. Nitrogen promotes reblooming and provides roses with three to four months of nutrients for optimal growth. Apply the fertilizer according to the manufacturer's directions and taper off use within two months of the first frost of the year.

Plant Enhancer

• Although not essential to rose care, rose plant enhancers and "miracle growth" products help roses take root and thrive in harsh conditions. For example, a plant enhancer may be beneficial if you live in an area with harsh, dry soil or in an area where extreme temperatures are common. Use in combination with a nutrient-rich fertilizer and mulch. Visit your local gardening center and ask a garden specialist for advice on which plant enhancer to use. Explain what results you're looking for and ask for recommendations.

Rose Food

• Help your rose plant grow with general purpose rose food. Apply as directed by the manufacturer. As a general rule of thumb, add rose food to the soil in the spring right after pruning, at the first sight of flower buds, and then again about two months before the first frost in your area. If you live in an area with fast-draining, sandy soil, you may want to use rose food more frequently. Use rose food in combination with nutrient-rich fertilizer.