Roses are really heavy feeders and need regular and, above all, targeted fertilization over the summer so that they remain healthy and vigorous and develop their beautiful flowers. However, the nutrient supply should be stopped by the end of June at the latest in order not to delay the ripening of the shoots.

Roses should not be fertilized in the fall

Autumn fertilization jeopardizes winter protection

Nutrients added later than June jeopardize the winter hardiness of your roses, because the supply of nitrogen in particular tempts the plants to tirelessly develop new shoots and not let the existing ones mature in time. These shoots, which are then too soft in winter, freeze to death in the cold season, are thus lost and can even be dangerous for the rose: After all, such a weakened plant is very susceptible to various pathogens, especially fungi. At best, the nutrients just seep away into the soil.

Piling up roses with compost?

Roses should be mounded with soil over the winter to protect them from frost. Sometimes you read the advice to heap the plants with compost instead, so that they are still supplied with nutrients. This is not a particularly good idea, however, as the nutrients leaching from the compost can give the rose a late growth spurt, especially during mild winters. However, these fresh shoots are doomed to die and also serve as a gateway for numerous pathogens.

Fertilize with Patentkali by mid-August at the latest

However, there is a way of stimulating roses to shoot maturity by means of targeted fertilization and thus making them more resistant to frost and other adverse weather conditions. You can achieve this if you fertilize with patent potash between the beginning and middle of August - but never later, because then this boost is simply useless. Incidentally, the potassium-rich fertilizer has another advantage, namely that it increases resistance to various pests and rose diseases. Do not forget to water the roses vigorously after potash fertilization so that the nutrients reach the roots quickly.

tips

Fertilizing with patent potash also makes sense in spring, because it makes both the green of the leaves and the colors of the flowers stronger - the elements sulfur and magnesium, which are also contained in the potash fertilizer, have a positive effect on the color of the leaves and flowers.

Category:

Vegetable garden