Fertilising Roses

Roses are a popular choice in any garden and are well regarded as one of the most beautiful species of flowering plants worldwide. With over 300 different species of roses, and thousands of different cultivar varieties, there really is a look, fragrance, and colour for everyone.

Once you have chosen a cultivar that thrives in your climate and garden, it is important to develop a regular fertilising routine that is specific to feeding roses. Regularly fertilising your roses will give them the best opportunity to blossom into a show piece in your garden.

Why fertilise your roses

Compared to some of the other flowering plants you may have in your garden, roses require regular fertilisation to thrive. As roses flower very intensely, they demand more nutrients from the soil than plants that flower less often, and it is important to give your roses exactly what they need.

Roses are heavy feeders that thrive when they are constantly supplied with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

They will look their best when they have an abundance of these nutrients to enjoy.

In contrast, roses that aren’t exposed to an adequate amount of nutrients will be unable to blossom properly and will wilt more quickly than less nutrient-dependent plants.

Further, nutrient-deficient roses will be unable to fight off common rose diseases and will be more susceptible to pests.

When to fertilise your roses

In Australia, roses flourish when they are fertilised three times a year. Fertilising roses at the right time of the season helps to encourage fresh growth in prime growing conditions, ensuring that the rose plant can blossom to the fullest extent. Once your flowers have started to show colour, it is recommended that they are then fertilised after the first flush of spring, and then again at the beginning of summer and the beginning of autumn.

To ensure that your rose bushes don’t start growing in conditions that stunt growth, it is important to avoid feeding your roses after the autumn flush or in winter.

Feeding roses during these seasons will encourage the rose to grow at the wrong time of year, and subsequently, can cause the plant to become damaged by frost. This could have lasting effects on the health of your rose bush, which is why sticking to the recommended feeding schedule is vital.

When deciding on the appropriate times to fertilise your roses, it is important to consider when you initially planted your roses and how nutrient-dense your soil is. From this information, you can create a feeding schedule that helps your rose bush thrive.

Additionally, it is important to remember that it’s possible to overfeed your roses. If your rose bush has been overfed it will produce fewer flowers to compensate for the fast-growth rate of the bush.

Fertilisers for roses

Choosing the right fertiliser for your roses will depend on the amount of nutrients in your soil and your personal preference for natural, pelletised or liquid fertiliser. Each type of fertiliser has different benefits and will need to be applied to the soil differently.

Natural fertilisers

Natural fertilisers such as compost, animal blood, animal bone and well-rotted animal manure are perfect sources of nutrients for roses. Natural fertilisers can come in a variety of forms such as granular, pelletised or liquid.

When choosing manure as your fertiliser for roses, it’s recommended that you avoid manure from carnivorous animals as it’s acidic and will damage your roses. It is also recommended that if you use chicken manure, it is only used sparingly.

Pelletised Fertiliser

Pelletised fertilisers are great for heavy feeders such as roses. Pelletised fertilisers have the benefit of releasing nutrients slowly and over a longer period of time, which helps to ensure that your rose bush is fed regularly and as needed. To apply pelletised fertilisers, sprinkle the correct quantity of pellets around the base of the rose bush and leave it.

Troforte Roses Azaleas and Camellia Fertiliser is a pelletised fertiliser that’s recommended for roses. Troforte Fertiliser is made up of specifically chosen bacteria, fungi, minerals and microbes to improve the overall health of your rose bush, whilst also helping to produce better colour and flowers.

Torforte Fertiliser creates a healthier environment for your rose bush to grow in, helping the heavy feeder thrive.

Troforte 5kg

Liquid Fertiliser

Liquid fertilisers have the benefit of feeding your roses quickly by giving them large quantities of nutrients in a concentrated environment. Liquid fertilisers are synthetic concentrated liquids that are mixed with water in order to feed your plants. Using liquid fertilisers will mean you have little cleanup to worry about after fertilisation. If you choose to use liquid fertiliser on your roses, it’s important to wet the roses and soil beforehand to prevent your fertiliser from burning the roots.

Help your roses thrive

Roses are a stunning addition to any garden. Garden Express stocks a fantastic range of roses and fertilisers, ensuring that you can choose a look and scent that suits your home. Have a browse of our wide selection today.