When is the Best Time to Fertilize Roses in a Year
Today's article will introduce you to the best time to fertilize roses for green plant maintenance, which will surely help you. Let's learn about it together!
When is the Best Time to Fertilize Roses in a Year
Just like people need to eat every day, roses require fertilizing all year round. More fertilizers are needed when they grow fast, and less when they grow slowly. There are also requirements for the fertilizing time.
Therefore, different fertilizing methods should be applied to roses according to their different growth conditions, also considering factors like temperature.
When Should Roses be Fertilized
The most effective and best time to fertilize roses, especially in the north, and also including most southern regions, is in winter.
If you are in the south, winter fertilizing should generally be done before the beginning of spring. If they have already sprouted, reduce the amount of fertilizer and must use decomposed organic fertilizer.
At this time, roses in the north have dropped their leaves and entered dormancy, while in the south, recent growth and root activity is also slowing down, which can be considered a resting and recuperating state in the south.
The amount of fertilizer for roses no longer needs to be controlled as strictly as during the growing period to avoid fertilizer damage. Fertilizing is usually combined with pruning.
Winter Fertilizing
It is generally done in January and February. In colder regions, it's fine to do it a bit later. In the south, it depends on the weather forecast, either on the coldest days or a week in advance.
① What Type of Fertilizer
Fertilizing mainly consists of decomposed organic fertilizers: sheep manure, cow dung, chicken manure, horse manure, oilseed cakes, soybean dregs, and other types of fertilizers. In the north, it's okay not to ferment them, but in the south, where it's hot, it's not recommended as it will smell bad and attract insects.
For ground planting, dig the soil deeply around the roses, about forty centimeters apart. Sometimes you might cut a root, but it won't affect much. Then dig a bit further away from the roots. For decomposed fertilizers, dig a 30 cm pit, and for undecomposed fertilizers, a pit about 50 cm.
② Fertilizing Amount
About ten pounds of decomposed fertilizer is fine, while undecomposed fertilizer should be used less and applied further away. Pour the fertilizer into the pit and add some slow-release fertilizer or general chemical fertilizer.
The amount depends on the size of the flowers. For larger ones, two pounds is fine, and for smaller ones, one to two ounces or half a pound. Sprinkle some pesticide like chlorpyrifos on the fertilizer for better effect. Then cover the fertilizer with soil, slightly deeper for better results.
For potted roses, the amount of fertilizer should be less. Combine it with potting and use organic fertilizer and slow-release fertilizer as a base. You can also add a bit of fertilizer along the edge of the pot. For newly potted ones, you can add a small amount of organic fertilizer (not recommended for young seedlings).
Potted roses are recommended to use 70%-80% decomposed organic fertilizer, with the remaining proportion being chemical or slow-release fertilizer. Young seedlings use two to three ounces, medium ones half a pound, and large ones one pound. If unsure, use less.
After fertilizing, around the end of February or early March here, they start to sprout. Although fertilizing now isn't as good as in December, due to the pandemic, fertilizing was done during the New Year, so this time we used fast-acting chemical fertilizer, which provides nutrients to the roses as soon as they sprout.
Organic fertilizers are long-acting, rich in nutrients and trace elements, which are essential for roses to grow well. I have fertilized now and don't plan to fertilize before they sprout.
In the south, fertilizing is like during the growing period. Although growth is slow in winter, fertilizing cannot stop.
Fertilizing Before Spring Sprouting
If fertilizing was not done before December, or there was no time or condition to fertilize in winter, it is necessary to supplement fertilizers before or after spring sprouting, mainly using decomposed organic fertilizers, chemical fertilizers, and slow-release fertilizers.
The amount should be reduced by half compared to winter fertilizing. For potted roses, chemical fertilizers are used in amounts of seven to ten grams, depending on the size of the plant. For ground planting, large seedlings usually use half a pound, and smaller ones less.
Fertilizing before and after sprouting should be less to avoid burning the tender buds and flower buds.
In our area, flower buds usually show color at the end of April. During these two months, I usually spray monopotassium phosphate every two weeks when I have time, or once a month when I don't, using high phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
After the end of April when the flowers show color, stop spraying liquid fertilizers and only apply some fertilizer. From sprouting to the flowers showing color and opening, water cannot be lacking. After the flower buds show color, it's crucial not to lack water.
After the flowers fade, it's time to top-dress, mainly using phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
【Summary】
After applying winter fertilizer in January, it's only necessary to spray foliar fertilizer once every half month after sprouting. If the winter fertilizer is less, apply a bit of fertilizer every month until the flower buds show color.
After the roses show color, only apply fertilizer and do it once a month after flowering. For the next cycle, before the flowers appear, apply fertilizer once a month, the same as the first application.
Fertilizing in Summer
In summer, when the temperature exceeds 30℃, the growth of roses slows down, but fertilizing should still continue.
For varieties that grow well in summer, like Monalisa, a bit more fertilizer can be used, about half the amount of spring. For varieties that grow slowly in summer, reduce the fertilizer to one-third of the spring amount.
The above introduction on the best time to fertilize roses throughout the year is hoped to be helpful to you. Don't forget to check out more flower care tips!