Question
I have poorish soil which is reclaimed land from the Shannon (Ireland.) Therefore it is peat on top for about 1 ft then there is a grey clay which has in it small shells. With most things we have to line the hole with plastic sheeting before we plant. I haven't done this with the roses and they are not as good as they should be. For instance by the end of the season they have lost all their leaves even if they are still flowering. They look sad.
Do you think it is the soil that is causing this or my bad management! I use rose fertiliser and this last year have used a granule all purpose fertiliser which is used by garden centres and nurseries. The leaves still come off.
   Any wizard ideas would be appreciated. I have the feeling I shall have to dig them all up though.

           Thanking you, Myfanwy.

Answer
As one who gardens on rocky, sandy soil, clay and peat sound wonderful to me!
Roses are very patient plants and will withstand most abuse, but they will not tolerate wet feet. Any frail feeder roots sitting in water for a day or so will be deprived of oxygen and be suffocated and also could be burned by the fertilizer that can't drain away. When the feeder roots can't take up the water and nutrients, then the leaves die and fall off. Ideal soil seldom  comes naturally so anything you do to let the mositure past though would be a big help. Such as putting in the bottom lots of large stones, coarse builders sand, plastic packing foam bits, course garden waste, peat etc.  Gypsum or calcium sulfate can be also be used to improve the clay condition by breaking up the sticky clay to allow better drainage. Just as long as the roots have about 8 inches of course material so the water will drain lower.
Short of putting in drainage tiles beneath the roses, then raised beds can solve the wet feet problem nicely.
If a gardener's soil isn't ideal, then the choice of roses narrows.  Modern roses tend to demand more care than the older ones. Gallicas, Damasks, Centifolias and Moss roses will tolerate less than perfect conditions without a word of complaint. Even some of the modern shrubs which nowadays look just like hybrid teas or floribundas, would do well under your conditions. I would love to have lots of modern roses but the gale force winds off the ocean would thrash them to tatters, so I have to be very selective on what I grow. Hope this helps. Lynnette
www.theoldrosarian.com