Feeding Roses: A Simple Guide to Strong, Healthy Growth and Beautiful Blooms
07 Feb 2025
Feeding your roses is one of the easiest yet most important tasks to ensure they grow strong and bloom abundantly throughout the season. Providing the right nutrients not only promotes better flowers but also helps your roses resist pests and diseases. Here’s everything you need to know about feeding your roses for optimal growth.
Why Should You Feed Your Roses?
Feeding your roses is essential for providing them with the nutrients they need to thrive. A well-fed rose is more likely to produce stunning blooms and show resilience against common garden pests and diseases. Proper nutrition encourages healthy growth, vibrant colors, and repeat flowering.
What to Feed Your Roses?
We recommend using granular rose food, as it is easy to apply and provides slow, steady nourishment. The granules release nutrients over time, which are absorbed by the rose through its roots. This helps ensure the rose gets a steady supply of essential nutrients throughout the growing season.
When to Feed Your Roses
First Feed: Apply the first feed at the beginning of the growing season, just before the leaves are fully open. This provides the roses with the nutrients they need to kickstart the growing season. Follow up immediately with mulching to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
Second Feed: After the first bloom cycle has finished, apply a second round of feeding. This will help encourage a second round of flowers and promote continuous blooming throughout the summer.
Note: For once-flowering roses, only one feed per season is required—the first feed before the growing season begins. After that, mulching is sufficient for the rest of the year.
Additional Feeding Tips for Summer
If you’ve already used granular rose food at the start of the season and after the first bloom cycle, consider supplementing with tomato feed during the summer months. Tomato feed is high in potassium, which helps promote strong blooms and healthy foliage. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to avoid over-fertilizing, which could harm your roses.
Step-by-Step Guide to Feeding Your Roses
1. Clear the Ground Around Your Rose: Wear gloves and use a hand fork to remove any weeds, dead leaves, or other debris around the base of your rose. This will ensure the feed reaches the soil directly and isn’t blocked by old plant matter.
2. Sprinkle the Rose Food: Using the measuring scoop provided, sprinkle the granular rose food evenly around the base of the plant, extending to the width of the canopy. This ensures that all parts of the rose’s root system receive the nutrients they need.
3. Mix the Rose Food into the Soil: Gently use your hand fork to mix the granules into the surrounding soil. This helps to incorporate the feed deeper into the soil, where the roots can access it more easily.
4. Water the Rose: If the soil is dry, water the rose thoroughly. This will help dissolve the granular feed and carry the nutrients into the roots. Follow immediately with mulching to lock in moisture and provide ongoing protection for the roots.
By following these simple steps, you’ll ensure that your roses are nourished and primed for healthy growth, vibrant blooms, and a long-lasting display of color. Happy gardening!
