FERTILIZING

A three time per year program is used by many growers.

First: (with established roses) just after pruning. With newly planted roses, crier full leaf-out (April to mid-May).

Second after the first flush of blooms fades (late June usually).

Third: Middle of August (fertilizing later in the year may promote new tender growth which could freeze if early cold weather occurs).

Some Rosarians feed liquid fertilizer (Peters, Mirocle-Gro, etc.) every two weeks around the plants you may be able to combine this type of fertilizer with your insect and disease spray mix.

Balanced fertilizers are best. New plants need more nitrogen than older plants in order to grow leaves.

Slow nitrogen releasing forms of fertilizer, such as Osmocote, will provide nitrogen over a longer period than other available chemical forms.

A handful of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) is recommended in the first parat of May to promote better leaf color.

Stop fertilizing in mid-August