Feed my - 01 rose

How to plant a potted shrub rose

By following these simple steps, you will ensure your potted shrub rose gets off to the best possible start.

How to deadhead roses

There are two stages to deadheading. The first is mainly aesthetic, removing the brown finished blooms so you can enjoy the remaining flowers without interruption. The second stage encourages new blooms and helps to maintain a compact shape.

how to mulch your roses

Mulching is the addition of a protective layer around the base of your roses. This process helps your roses to retain moisture, suppresses weeds and provides valuable nutrients for your roses as they grow.

planting distances

Follow this simple guide on planting distances for a successful garden.

Fertilizing Roses

Roses are heavy feeders as they put lots of energy into flower production, making large demands on the soil. If one or more of the necessary elements is deficient in the soil, we begin to see the signs of hunger. If a rose does not have adequate nutrients, it will not have the ability to successfully fight off diseases and pests and will become susceptible to damage. Therefore it is very important that roses are fed regularly.

Click here for signs and symptoms of hungry roses.


 


There are many forms of rose fertilizer:

Natural fertilizers:

A regular, generous application of well rotted animal manure or compost and blood and bone are perfect for roses. Avoid manure from animals that eat meat and use chicken manure sparingly - as these are too acidic for roses. Blood and bone gives an immediate burst of nutrients but should only be used once or twice a year in winter and the manure or compost provides a continuous release as it breaks down.  A quick foliar feed every so often of Charlie Carp or Seasol is a good pick me up for the plant.
 

Pelletized fertilizer:

Pelletized fertilizers such as Sudden Impact are applied by sprinkling around the base of the plant. Use a reputable brand and follow the manufactures instructions on the packaging.
 

Liquid fertilizer:

Use a reputable brand and follow the manufactures instructions on the packaging. Never apply liquid fertilizer to dry soil as this will burn the roots - water the roses first.


When to apply:

Fertilizing should be done three times a year:
1.  first flush in spring,
2.  start of summer,
3.  start of Autumn.

DO NOT

feed after the autumn flush, as this encourages fresh growth at the wrong time. New growth leading into winter is not ideal as it may become damaged from the frost.

DO NOT fertilize in winter or at the time of planting!!

 

Foliar Feed:

This is type of fertilizer is applied by spraying the foliage of the plant. It has the unique advantage of reaching the sap flow in the stems only hours after being applied and will help give the rose lovely, glossy green leaves. This is to be used in conjunction with other fertilizers and is not to replace soil fertilization.

Application: weekly or fortnightly.

Charlie Carp is a great example of this, mix with water and spray the foliage once a week for the best results. This product can also be mixed with other eco friendly sprays such as Eco-Oil and Eco-Fungicide, providing protection against pests and diseases.


You CAN over feed your roses!

Do not over feed your roses. If roses are over fed, you will notice excessive growth, the plant growing larger than normal and with reduced flowers. Also note that some soils already contain sufficient nutrients for roses and may not need feeding a regularly as recommended, judge this on how the individual plant is growing.

Here's When to Fertilize Roses for Bigger, Brighter Blossoms

Keep your roses healthy and help them produce plenty of flowers by giving them the proper nutrients.

Updated on April 23, 2021

For the most part, roses are fairly tough plants that will grow and bloom without demanding much attention from you. But to enjoy the biggest blooms and healthiest growth, roses do need more feeding than most flowering shrubs. Fortunately, it's easy to provide the nutrients they need, and you can do that organically or with synthetic fertilizer products. The key is to give your roses fertilizer that has the right balance of nutrients and to do so on a regular basis. When you feed them on a consistent schedule, they'll reward you with a garden filled with stunning, fragrant flowers.

Richard Baer

The Best Fertilizers for Roses

Like all plants, roses need three primary nutrients: Nitrogen (the "N" on a fertilizer label), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), plus a number of secondary and trace elements. Trace elements (boron, chlorine, copper, and iron) promote plant cell and root growth. Most garden soils provide some of these nutrients but as the plants grow and use them, they become depleted. That's where you come in; adding nutrients back to the soil helps roses perform their best.

Primary nutrients are available from both organic (derived from plant or animal life) and synthetic or inorganic materials. Fertilizers come in dry, liquid, or foliar spray form. Shop for a product labeled for roses and read the directions for amounts and frequency of application carefully. Keep in mind that more is not better; excessive fertilization can damage plants or make them susceptible to disease and insect attack.

Organic options, such as fish emulsion, manures, compost tea, and alfalfa pellets are good choices and have the benefit of being less likely to overload the soil with unnecessary compounds. Commercial products that contain mixtures of organic nutrients are also available. The nutrient concentration in organic products is generally lower, so more frequent applications are recommended, but these products also feed soil organisms and develop humus (organic material, usually from decomposing leaves or the breakdown of other plants), making the soil healthier for plant growth.

When and How to Fertilize Roses

Most roses need regular feeding throughout the growing season. For newly-planted roses, add plenty of compost to the hole at planting time, and then provide a liquid fertilizer (synthetic or organic) about a month later, after they're established. Start feeding older plants in spring when new growth is about 6 inches long. Most will benefit from a second feeding of liquid fertilizer after the first bloom, and repeat-blooming roses do best with regular feeding every 2-3 weeks until late summer.

If conditions are dry, water your roses before feeding them and then, keep them well hydrated afterwards. This helps the plants absorb nutrients better, and prevent fertilizer burn on roots and leaves. Stop feeding about 8 weeks before your average first frost date to avoid stimulating too much new growth that will be damaged by cold temperatures.

What is the best thing to feed roses?

Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer or top dress with alfalfa meal (5-1-2) for the first application to jump-start leaf development, along with epsom salts to encourage new cane development and lusher growth. Add a slow-release fertilizer when shoots are 4 to 5 inches long.

Do you fertilize roses first year?

After the first year of growth, you'll want to start your fertilizing process as soon as you're able to start working the soil. You'll keep fertilizing throughout the season unless you're using a slow-release granular fertilizer.

What should I feed a rose bush with?

We recommend a good feed of a nitrogen high feed like “Top Rose Gold” after the late-winter prune in February, then feeding every two weeks throughout the flowering period with a high potash feed like “Tomorite” or "Uncle Tom's Rose Tonic".

What time of year do you fertilize roses?

Start feeding older plants in spring when new growth is about 6 inches long. Most will benefit from a second feeding of liquid fertilizer after the first bloom, and repeat-blooming roses do best with regular feeding every 2-3 weeks until late summer.