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More Blooms, Healthier Roses: The Fertilizing Guide You Need

By stacy ling

Gardening Tips & Tricks

Learn everything you need to know about fertilizing roses with this comprehensive guide. From timing to techniques, this resource will help you grow healthy and flourishing roses.

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You can never go wrong adding compost, leaf mold, and other organic matter to your soil to help give your roses a great base of nutrients and assist with drainage.

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Newly Planted Roses When planting new rose bushes, amend the planting hole with lots of  organic matter to create a nutrient-rich environment. Prioritize  fostering strong root growth by fertilizing with phosphorus only. This  is because phosphorus plays a key role in root development, giving your  new rose a solid foundation to thrive.

Hold off on fertilizers high in nitrogen until after your rose’s  first bloom. While nitrogen is important later for healthy foliage, initially it can encourage weak top growth at the expense of strong roots.

It’s a great idea to apply epsom salt around the base of your rose plants because it encourages sturdy stems,  green foliage, and gorgeous blooms. During the first year of growth, sprinkle about 1/4 cup in spring. After the first set of blooms, it’s okay to fertilize them. You can’t go wrong with a mild fertilizer like fish emulsion every 3-4 weeks.

Established Roses As new growth emerges, promote healthy foliage with a fertilizer higher in nitrogen, or consider organic amendments like alfalfa meal and epsom salt. Maintain consistent growth and abundant blooms by applying a balanced fertilizer every 2-4 weeks adjusting the frequency based on the fertilizer you choose.

In late summer/early fall, it’s time to prepare your  roses for the cold winter months. Switch to a fertilizer that is lower in nitrogen, like bone meal, to encourage root growth and enhance winter hardiness.

Container Grown Since container roses have limited access to nutrients when confined to  their pots they’ll need more frequent fertilization compared to roses  planted in the ground. Water-soluble fertilizers are  better to use because they give more precise control over the delivery  of nutrients and are better absorbed by the plant.

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Follow along to learn more about fertilizing your garden roses.

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