EXCESSIVE MANURING

Articles In This Section:

· WHY ROSES FAIL

· AIR POCKETS

· DEEP PLANTING

· MANURING AT PLANTING TIME

· DRY ROOTS

· EXCESSIVE ACIDITY OR ALKALINITY

· INADEQUATE DRAINAGE

· ROSE-SICK SOIL

· EXCESSIVE MANURING

· FROSTS

· SHADE

· PROXIMITY OF LARGE PLANTS

· HEAVY PRUNING

· ARTESIAN WATER

Excessive manuring at any stage of a plant's life can kill it. This most frequently happens when chemicals are used for fertilizing, for few people realize either the potency of the chemical or the small amount needed by the plant. Frequent small feedings are safest and best (see Chapter XVII).

Deep cultivation is discussed in Chapter XV. Direct and indirect root damage is inevitable if the soil is disturbed deeper than three to four inches in established rose beds.

Excessive watering, especially too frequent heavy watering, interferes with soil aeration and washes away from the reach of plant roots vast quantities of plant foods, especially if the readily soluble chemical fertilizers are used. This matter is dealt with in Chapter XV. Arsenic from excessive use of one of the arsenates in spraying or, more commonly, from manure from sheep that have recently been through an arsenic dip, can cause widespread damage.