How to Grow Roses with Black Kow®
Reviewed by the Black Kow Garden Team · Updated September 2026Dig the bed about 20 inches deep and make sure it drains. Backfill with ½ native soil, ¼ Black Kow and ¼ shredded bark or soil conditioner, plus sphagnum peat. In fall, top-dress with about ¼ inch of Black Kow and re-mulch.
Step by step
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1
Dig and check drainage
Dig the bed or hole about 20 inches deep and make sure water drains well.
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2
Mix the soil
Combine ½ native soil, ¼ Black Kow and ¼ shredded bark or soil conditioner. Add sphagnum peat.
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3
Adjust for your soil
In heavy clay, add as much pea gravel or expanded shale as bark. Add ½ cup super-phosphate per plant, and 1 cup garden lime per plant where soil is naturally acidic.
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4
Plant and water
Set the rose, backfill with the mix, and water thoroughly.
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5
Clean up in fall
After cutting back, remove old mulch, rake the surface, add about ¼ inch of Black Kow, smooth, and re-mulch.
Products in this guide
Roses FAQ
Loamy soil with good drainage. The ½ soil, ¼ Black Kow, ¼ bark mix gets you there.
Add as much pea gravel or expanded shale as bark to improve drainage.
Yes. After cutting back, top-dress with about ¼ inch and re-mulch.