Roses are one of the undisputed favorites in the garden. However, in order for your rose bushes to grow healthily and bloom profusely, they need the right nutrient cocktail. In this article we will explain which rose fertilizers are suitable and when you apply them.

Roses are very nutrient hungry

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Fertilize roses properly
  3. Suitable rose fertilizers
  4. frequently asked Questions

    5. the essentials in brief

    • Roses have a high nutrient requirement and need a balanced mix of different components.
    • Basically, two fertilizations per year are planned, sometimes a third one for the purpose of potassium supply.
    • Favor organic rose fertilizers as they provide all the necessary nutrients.
    • Barn manure, compost and supplementary household remedies such as coffee grounds, banana peels and wood ash are particularly suitable.

    Fertilize roses properly - Roses need these nutrients

    Roses only show their lavish blooms when they are supplied with an optimally composed fertilizer at the right time. Not every fertilizer is suitable for the supply of demanding trees, because for

    • the flowering the "Queen of Flowers" needs a lot of nutrients that stimulate bud formation. In particular, the reblooming and more frequently flowering varieties have a high nutrient requirement.
    • the Promotion of frost hardiness a supply of a balanced nutrient cocktail is essential. The correct composition of the fertilizer and the right time to fertilize promotes shoot completion and ensures that new shoots mature in good time before winter.
    • the storage of reserves before winter, the right time is crucial. Roses develop new shoots from these reserves in the following year.
    • the improvement of soil quality a good, balanced rose fertilizer is also essential. Roses need loose, humus-rich soil, which is why the fertilizer ideally stimulates soil life and thus humus formation.

    Ingredients and optimal composition

    In this article you will find out what is important when caring for roses in spring.

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    However, to support the rose in its growth and in the formation of flowers, it is not enough to simply administer any fertilizer. Instead, it depends on the right mixture of nutrients at the right time - then the care for the roses will also work. You should pay particular attention to these nutrients:

    • nitrogen: important for leaf sprouting and shoot growth, therefore apply more in spring, but only slightly in summer
    • phosphorus: important for flowering, apply in spring, with frequently flowering and reblooming varieties also in a fast-acting form in summer
    • potassium: promotes the development of firm shoots and thus winter hardiness, is administered primarily in summer and autumn

    Commercially available rose fertilizers contain the nutrients, minerals and trace elements mentioned as well as other nutrients in an optimal composition. However, before you resort to these fertilizers, a soil analysis makes sense. You can have this carried out by an appropriate institute and will give you information about which nutrients are missing in your soil - and which are plentiful. Many garden soils are now rich in phosphorus, which is why oversupply should be avoided.

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    When is the right time to fertilize?

    Basically, fertilize your roses twice a year. The first dose is due at the time of budding in spring, around the beginning of April. The second fertilization takes place after flowering between the end of June and the beginning of July. This fertilizer must act quickly. Make sure that newly planted roses - and optimally supplied with plenty of ripe compost - do not need any further fertilization in the year of planting. Only fertilize them in the second year.

    Which rose fertilizers are suitable?

    A basic distinction is made between mineral and organic forms of fertilizer. Some rose fertilizers also come in a blend of mineral and organic ingredients, including many organic rose fertilizers. Which fertilizer is suitable when - or not - we explain in this section.

    Mineral fertilizers for roses

    With mineral fertilizers there is a risk of over-fertilization

    In mineral fertilizers, the nutrients are in the form of salts. These rose fertilizers are available to the plants very quickly, but there is also a risk of over-fertilization. In addition, pure fertilization with mineral fertilizers harbors the problem that the nitrogen obtained from salts in particular promotes humus degradation and thus leads to a deterioration in soil quality in the long term. For this reason, you should never rely on pure mineral fertilizers, but instead give preference to a mix of organic and mineral components or purely organic fertilizers (plus the addition of rock dust). Commercial rose fertilizers usually meet these requirements.

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    Can you fertilize roses with blue seed?

    Blaukorn is a so-called NPK fertilizer that is available in a purely mineral form. In principle, you can fertilize your roses with it, but we advise against it. Blue grain has a high nitrogen content, which allows the shoots to grow strongly and neglects the formation of flowers. The roses become bushy, but only bloom a little. In addition, the shoots remain soft, do not harden properly and are therefore more susceptible to pest infestation or rose diseases.

    Natural rose fertilizer

    Instead of buying rose fertilizer, you can use organic materials from your own garden - or from the neighbors - instead. The raw materials presented here are particularly suitable for roses. The purely organic fertilization offers several advantages:

    1. The roses are continuously supplied with nutrients over a longer period of time.
    2. Over-fertilization is practically impossible.
    3. Organic fertilization promotes soil life and thus the formation of humus.
    4. With organic fertilization you gradually improve the soil.

    In addition, manure, compost and the like ensure that the natural nutrient cycle is maintained.

    stable dung

    Due to the balanced composition of nutrients, cattle manure (€18.80) or horse manure (with straw!) are particularly suitable for fertilizing roses. However, you should not use fresh manure as it is too harsh and could damage the plant. Instead, let the manure mature well (e.g. on the manure heap or with the compost) or use commercially available pellets. These consist of dried manure and also have the advantage that they do not smell.

    compost

    Humus is an important soil component for roses, which is why you can fertilize them very well with mature garden compost. When planting, put a shovel in the planting hole for each rose to create optimal starting conditions. When fertilizing in spring, the compost can be supplemented with a handful of horn meal or horn shavings (€32.93) to supply the nitrogen that is important for growth. In turn, bedrock powder provides a balanced mix of minerals and trace elements.

    Horn shavings / horn meal

    Horn shavings,(32.93€) Horn meal or bone meal is rich in nitrogen. Add this organic fertilizer to the spring budding of the obligatory compost or manure. However, the material is not suitable as the sole fertilizer due to the lack of balance.

    Appropriate home remedies

    Wood ash is a great fertilizer for roses

    "When a flower blooms, it shows us its beauty. If it doesn't bloom, it teaches us hope." (from China)

    A good addition to fertilizing with compost or manure are various types of waste that accumulate in the kitchen every day:

    • coffee: contains many important nutrients, minerals and trace elements, but acidifies the soil over time. Therefore only use occasionally and not constantly. Dry the coffee grounds well (otherwise they will mold!) and work them into the soil.
    • banana peels: are rich in potassium, so comminute them well (if possible in a blender) and work them into the soil for summer fertilization.
    • wood ash: is excellent as a fertilizer for roses, but only if pure, untreated wood has been burned. Wood ash contains a lot of potassium and lime, and the material also inhibits the growth of fungi.

    It is important to carefully work the respective base materials into the soil and then pour them on. This is the only way for the nutrients to reach the roots.

    frequently asked Questions

    Can you also use rose fertilizer for other types of plants, such as clematis?

    Of course, you can also use rose fertilizer for other types of plants. Many manufacturers also explicitly recommend fertilization for other (flowering) shrubs and perennials if they are to bloom lavishly. Due to its composition, rose fertilizer is particularly suitable for shrubs from the rose family, for example wild roses such as the dog rose or apple rose, for ornamental apples and ornamental quince and for many fruit trees.

    The special fertilizer is also suitable for shrubs such as lilacs (syringa and summer lilac), forsythia, laburnum and viburnum. Many gardeners also supply their hydrangeas with it and have had good experiences. Clematis, which is often cultivated together with roses, can also be supplied with rose fertilizer, as can honeysuckle. Rose fertilizer is only unsuitable for plant species where the main focus is on the growth of the shoots and leaves (e.g. lawns, green and hedge plants). For vegetables, on the other hand, the special fertilizer is dosed too weakly and is therefore not sufficient.

    My roses are suddenly getting yellow leaves, what's wrong?

    Yellow leaves often indicate a care mistake, often a lack of nutrients is behind it - but not always! Sometimes they are a first indication of the onset of black spot, a fungal disease commonly found in roses. However, if the leaves become lighter and lighter while the leaf veins remain dark green, this indicates an iron deficiency. You can fix this with a special iron fertilizer, and you should also check the pH of the soil - if it is too acidic, the shrub cannot absorb enough nutrients through the roots. The same goes if you keep the rose too moist.

    My roses won't bloom, do they need more fertilizer?

    There can also be many reasons for the lack of flowering, insufficient fertilization is not always the cause. So before you resort to fertilizer, first rule out other sources of error. These include: wrong location (too little light), unsuitable soil (too lean, too acidic, heavily compacted), waterlogging (compacted soil, wrong watering), diseases and pests as well as wrong cutting. When pruning, pay close attention to the recommendations for your rose varieties, otherwise you will accidentally cut off the flower buds and rob yourself of the flower.

    tips

    You can also make a liquid rose fertilizer yourself: To do this, prepare a plant manure made from nettles and field horsetail, which you mix with rock dust. Before use, dilute 1:9 (1 part manure, 9 parts soft water) and water your roses every two weeks.

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Vegetable garden