The Best Time and Way to Fertilize Roses for Fuller, More Vibrant Blooms

Use These Rose Fertilizing Tips to Get More Blooms
Roses are tough and low-maintenance, yet they do enjoy regular feeding to reward you with abundant, healthy blooms. Unlike other flowering shrubs, roses need more fertilizer to support their vigorous growth and bloom cycles. The good news is that feeding your roses is easy to do, whether you use organic or synthetic products. The key to success is selecting the right type of fertilizer with the ideal ratio of nutrients—and adhering to a regular routine of feeding. Get the timing correct and persist, and your roses will reward you with a healthy, fragrant display.
Why Roses Require Regular Feeding
Roses, similar to all plants, need a balance of nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), in addition to a range of secondary and trace elements. These micronutrients, including boron, copper, iron, and chlorine, help promote healthy roots and cell function. The garden soil may contain some of these elements naturally, but they are used up over time as plants grow. By returning the nutrients to the soil, you help your roses continue to flourish with healthier growth and more prolific blooming.
Choosing the Right Fertilizer for Roses
Either organic (from plant or animal origin) or synthetic (man-made) fertilizers can supply necessary nutrients. Fertilizers come in several forms, including dry granules, liquid feeds, and foliar sprays. Select a product formulated for roses, and follow the label instructions for how much and how often to use. Avoid overfeeding—too much fertilizer can stress your plants or predispose them to pest or disease issues.
Organic Rose Feeding Options
Organic rose feeding supports soil structure and encourages beneficial soil life. Organic fertilizers contain lower levels of nutrients than synthetics but are also less apt to burn or harm and must be applied more often. Organic amendments also help build humus, the rich material formed from decomposed plant matter. Some popular organic fertilizers include:
Fish emulsion
Aged manure
Compost tea
Alfalfa meal
Bone meal
Fertilizing Roses: When and How Basics
Roses typically need to be fed continuously throughout the growing season. However, when and how does make a difference when the plant is newly planted, well established, or a repeat-blooming rose.
Newly Planted Roses
Newly Planted Roses
For new roses, add compost to the planting hole to help develop roots. Wait for a month or so before making the first application of liquid fertilizer to allow the plant to settle in.
Older Roses
For established roses, begin fertilizing in the early spring when the plant has about 6 inches of new growth. Fertilize again after the first bloom flush.
Repeat-Blooming Varieties
Feed repeat-flowering roses in the spring just as you would feed any rose, then continue feeding every two to three weeks through late summer to keep them blooming.
Useful Tips for Feeding Roses
It’s a good idea to have a soil test every two years or so to monitor nutrient levels and determine if you should add soil amendments, such as lime, to modify pH.
Water your roses before and after fertilizing, especially during dry weather, to facilitate nutrient uptake and to protect roots and leaves from fertilizer burn.
Stop fertilizing about eight weeks before your area’s average first frost date to avoid encouraging new growth that can be damaged by the cold.