Food For Thought
Roses are leafing out and growing with all the sun, rain and warmth that spring provides. All this growth means they draw a lot of nutrients from the soil to produce that gorgeous foliage and their beautiful blooms. The addition of good nutrients to the soil will help them along. That being said, there are different approaches to this aspect of care for roses with no single right way to go about it.
Consider Your Gardening Philosophy
We all have different reasons for choosing products or particular methods for feeding roses. There are many great options that are easily available whether you choose to approach your garden using organic methods, inorganic fertilizers or even a blend of both.
It’s also worth thinking about your purpose. If you grow roses for cut flowers or competitive showing, your feeding routine may look different than someone growing them purely for the joy of it.
Think about the time you spend in the garden. You may be someone who chooses to spend lots of time caring for each individual plant, and finds the process therapeutic. Or you may be someone who wants to keep gardening super easy with a more hands-off approach. There is room for every kind of gardener here.
What To Feed Them
For an organic approach, choose natural products like kelp, fish emulsion, or alfalfa. It takes a bit more time to mix and hand water using these, but your plants will thank you.
Inorganic fertilizers are convenient and easy to use, with suggested application often being 2 to 3 times per season. Look for fertilizers designed with roses in mind, as these will contain a balanced blend of nutrients specific to what roses need most.
Compost and manure are must-haves for every garden with spring or fall being great times in the season to add on top of your soil and mix.
Timing
Begin feeding when your roses start leafing out in the spring. Follow your chosen products’ suggestions for re-application through the growing season or as your time and conditions allow. If you have any roses in pots in your garden, you may want to consider feeding them a bit more often as water run off can take nutrients away from the plant over time.
No matter what products you use, we recommend applying your final feeding 6 to 8 weeks before your first expected frost. This allows the plant to naturally slow its growth following the rhythm of the season.
Any of these choices can lead to happy, healthy roses. Always remember that they are wonderfully resilient. With water, sun and a little care, they are sure to thrive.
