Projects
Care and Feeding of Roses
Summary of “A Gourmet Diet for Bay Area Roses”
GOAL: Create large volume of blooms early April until late in November
Fertilizers:
- Apply around rose’s drip line, (area marked if the bush was dripping wet).
- Granular fertilizers -- spread directly on ground & water in thoroughly.
- Concentrated liquid -- dilute first before applying.
N, P, K – 3 three most essential elements in soil fertility
- Always expressed in three consecutive numbers on labels of all fertilizers, granular or liquid.
- N (nitrogen) - a growth stimulant; is essential in the formation of chlorophyll; regulates plants’ intake of other nutrients.
- P (phosphorous) - stimulates root formation & flowering; hastens plant maturation by converting starches to sugars.
- K [potassium (potash)] - important for the development of stems & leaves; increases plants’ disease resistance and hardiness.
Rose diet for already healthy, modern day roses (those that repeat bloom):
- Heirloom roses (blooms once): feed same but only through June
- New or sick plants & miniatures: cut all fertilizer dosages in half.
- Early spring (mid Feb.) mulch & blanket well with organic materials
- i.e. - compost, wood shavings, bone meal, hoof & horn, aged manure (chicken & turkey best; steer will do); preferably a combination.
- Mulch is nutritious & provides perfect medium for applying concentrated fertilizers.
MARCH & APRIL (NOTE:an unseasonably late frost may delay blooms)
- WK 1 – feed with granular, water soluble fertilizer concentrated in nitrogen (any of the following):
- 31-0-0 (a slow-release formula)
- 33.5-0-0 (ammonium nitrate)
- 21-0-0 (ammonium sulfate)
- 15.5-0-0 (calcium nitrate).
- WK 3– feed with ¾ cup Epsom salts per bush & water thoroughly.
- Epsom salts (properly magnesium sulfate)
- Activates plant enzymes essential to the growth process.
- Creates vibrant red growth from the base of rosebushes
- Few rosebushes: buy epsom salts at corner grocery or pharmacy; it’s inexpensive
- 12+ rose bushes: get a bag of industrial grade magnesium sulfate; not pharmaceutical-quality or as purified but no difference to your roses
MAY & JUNE
- WK 1 – feed with granular, water soluble, balanced fertilizers: 10-10-10, 15-15-15 or 20-20-20 (whichever is on sale)
- WK 3– feed with ½ cup Epsom salts per bush & water thoroughly.
JULY & AUGUST
- WK 1– feed with granular, water soluble, balanced fertilizers: 10-10-10, 15-15-15 or 20-20-20 (more likely on sale now than earlier).
- WK 3– feed with fish emulsion at the rate of one tablespoon per gallon.
- Dissolve & pour 2 gallons of mixture around the drip line of each bush.
- Fish emulsion is thoroughly organic & incapable of burning plants
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER
- WK 1 – feed with granular, water soluble 0-10-10 (favorite mixture among garden plants, not just roses)
- Concentrations of phosphorous & potassium continues bloom & hardens wood for winter pruning
- Encourages no new growth (0 signifies an absence of nitrogen)
- WK 3 – feed with fish emulsion at the rate of one tablespoon per gallon.
- Dissolve & pour 2 gallons of mixture around the drip line of each bush.
- Don’t apply fertilizers after Halloween; soil around properly fed rosebushes holds plenty of nutrients for the last blossoms.
Other foods roses enjoy:
- Additional shots of fish emulsion (only if your roses still seem hungry)
- Chelated iron (considered by many rosarians basic to a well-balance diet)
- a quick greener-upper
- a fine soil penetrant.
- Add any depleted element(s) in the soil, such as zinc, boron and manganese; requires a soil test to determine which to add.
* Information from “A Gourmet Diet for Bay Area Roses” by Rayford Reddell, who has over 24 years of experience.
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