Roses and feeding advice.

Freckle · Post by **Freckle** » 07 Mar 2012, 08:06

I need some advice regarding feeding roses, ive bought 'TopRose' by bayer, which suggests using it twice a year, over feeding will do more damage etc.

Is there anything else i can use regularly to boost flowering and plant growth. Ive read many times banana skins/whole bananas are a huge benifit, but how often do you use them ?

One of my customers has a huge garden with many rose plants, and their looking to buy another 8 standard roses in may for a wedding in aug, money doesnt seem to be a problem, i just want the plants to have the best start feeding regime possible.

Any advice would be fantastic.

Grannyof4 · Post by **Grannyof4** » 07 Mar 2012, 08:33

Obviously there is the manmade feed but personally I don't think you can beat some good WELL ROTTED horse manure...the old fashioned way. Dead head frequently as well. I love roses but they can take so much time, greenfy, black spot and all other rose diseases take time to treat.

Freckle · Post by **Freckle** » 07 Mar 2012, 08:42

Thanks granny, im a self employed gardener and learning all the time, roses are a specialised plant, and i know there must be some good advice lurking about around here.

Ive got the horse muck, its just not rotted down, ive got a big pile composting now.

Homemade · Post by **Homemade** » 08 Mar 2012, 00:12

Agreed about the rotted manure.
Bone meal is another good slow release feed that promotes good root growth so especially good for new plantings.

Not heard about using bananas- sounds slimey and a waste to me. I understand that they are high in potassium -which promotes flowering but I would use wood ash for that, or a tomato feed.