Feeding New Bushes

• The American Rose Society recommends a conservative approach to feeding newly planted rose bushes. Incorporate organic material such as compost into the soil at planting time, which will gently feed the roots until they're well established. To avoid chemical burns to sensitive new roots, don't use commercial fertilizers until the shrub produces its first blooms. At that time you can begin a regular feeding program, but use a weaker application at more frequent intervals -- for instance, instead of using 1 cup of product monthly, use 1/2 cup every two weeks for the first year.
  
  

Feeding Established Roses

• Established rose bushes need a regular feeding schedule for best flowering and plant growth. Most granular rose foods should be applied in early spring when the plant first breaks dormancy, then every four to six weeks until late summer. Stop feeding roses at the end of August so that all new growth has adequate time to harden off before the onset of cold weather. The amount to apply at each feeding depends on the product used.
  
  Slow-release fertilizers such as Osmocote should be applied according to package directions, usually in early spring and then again in midsummer in areas with a long growing season. Liquid fertilizers such as Miracle-Gro are normally applied at least every two weeks, although many rose growers prefer to use a diluted solution at each watering. Liquid fertilizers can also be sprayed directly on the leaves for a quick pick-me-up.
  
  

Climbing Roses Are Special...

• Climbing roses need extra food.rosier 1 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com
  
  Climbing roses are such large bushes that they require two to three times as much fertilizer as regular rose bushes. Double the quantity used for smaller bushes and apply it slightly more often. Spread the fertilizer over the entire root zone of the climber, several feet out from the crown of the plant.
  
  

...And So Are Miniatures

• Miniatures are particularly sensitive to overfeeding, so always use half-strength fertilizer on them. As with all rose bushes, make sure the soil around the roots is already moist before applying fertilizer in order to avoid chemical burns.
  
  

How Soil Affects Feeding

• Roses grown in sandy soil require more frequent feeding than roses grown in heavy soils, because the fertilizer nutrients wash out of the soil quickly, before the rose has a chance of absorbing them all. Regardless of soil type, roses are best able to absorb nutrients when the soil pH is between 5.5 to 7. Test the pH with an inexpensive test kit or home pH meter, or send a soil sample to your county extension service. If the pH needs adjusting, your garden center will help you choose a product and advise you on the amount to apply.