Redsox, based upon its stated guaranteed analysis of 4-3-2 and being organic, there should be nothing you CAN'T use it on as a general fertilizer. For something requiring high nitrogen, add another organic product with more nitrogen to it to raise the first number. If you want to push more flowers, add something with higher phosphorus to it to raise the middle number, the same for encouraging fruit setting. Add something with higher potassium ratings to raise the third number until it is near where you wish it. The ratio of the numbers to one another determines what type of fertilizer it is. Adding other organic types to it to adjust each of the numbers permits you to tailor it to individual plant specifics, but there is really nothing you SHOULDN'T use what you have for as there is really nothing it would hurt. Kim

I just recently read that it's also good for azaleas and rhodies too so when I was putting mine on last week I put it on those as well. We'll see!

Should be Sharon. With an analysis of 4-3-2 it's actually a mildly acidic food. Nitrogen is an acidifier. The higher the nitrogen, the more acidic (eventually). That would make it suitable for grasses, palms, acid loving plants in general and citrus/fruit trees. The nitrogen rating is often increased because it dissolves and moves with water, so it's often flushed out of the soil before being absorbed by the plant. Higher levels should permit the plant to grab more of it before it washes away. Unfortunately, it also stimulates algae growth in ponds and other water ways when it washes into them.

Bump up the phosphorus (middle number) and it becomes more of a tomato type which is what is suggested for many flowering plants (including roses) as phosphorus stimulates flowering. Higher levels of potassium stimulate fruit set. That's pretty much how they formulate the fertilizer mixes, adding various chemicals or organic meals together to create the analysis. Of course, this is a very basic, rudimentary explanation, but sufficient to be used to "read" the label and figure out what to use the product for. It's also sufficient to permit anyone to buy the component meals to mix their own to suit their desires. The guaranteed analysis ratings is the difference between the various fertilizers. Most plants are going to use whatever you give them. They just aren't likely to do WHAT you want if given the wrong type. You CAN fertilize your roses with your lawn food (barring any herbicides and any concentrations approaching toxicity), but all that nitrogen is going to stimulate lots of sappy growth which is more susceptible to insect, disease and weather damage at the expense of flowering. You can also use your rose and flower food on your grass, but it's not as likely to green it up and stimulate lush, fast growth because of the lower nitrogen. Rose food can partially feed acid loving types, but not as well nor as efficiently as they evolved to need the acidic pH to absorb the nutrients, just as roses evolved to require more iron than is available in highly alkaline conditions. Some more so than others, such as Reine des Violettes and anything multiflora which have frequently been discussed here concerning their chlorosis issues in alkaline situations. Kim

I use Rosetone for just about everything in my garden. If I can't find Rose Tone, I buy Plant Tone and use it for everything.

I think many of us make fertilizing more complicated than it needs to be.

I use holly tone instead of rose tone because it's basically the same thing and it costs less where I live.

I use it on everything that I fertilize. Except the lawn.

Hmmm, did not realize it costs less!

It cost less for me because I can buy large bags at HD. Home Depot near me only carries 8 lb bags of rose tone.

To answer the original question, many folks have found that the Tones are also acceptable to family dogs as supplemental munchies. Especially if the owners don't know.

Not a recommendation, mind you, but an observation.

Virtually all organic fertilizers are, Ann. Dogs LOVE the stuff. Many also like Sluggo, the iron phosphate snail bait. One of mine goes nuts when he finds the stuff. He likes it as much as he likes the snails themselves. The other one prefers any poop she finds and all the "worm jerky" out front after the rains. Takes some real effort to police the area before they're allowed out!

I can't use organics out back because the animal by products attract the coyotes, bob cats, raccoons while the plant by products attract every rodent, squirrel and rabbit for miles. Those attract SNAKES and all organics encourage earth worm activity and that brings more MOLES. Danged if I do, danged if I don't! Kim

Yes, I've used the Holly tone too because it's always cheaper. But this year I happened to win a big bag of Rose tone at a good price at our district conference's silent auction so it was money well spent all around!

I don't worry too much about what kind of fertilizer I use. I buy what I find on sale or cheapest the week I need to buy more. I've used about every kind you can think of and the roses keep growing and blooming no matter what I use. The key is to USE SOMETHING!

Yes, the dog thing is something I've been dealing with! My frontyard roses look beautiful (I use Rosetone on them), while my backyard roses look like they are missing nutrients. The reason: the dogs LOVE the organic fertilizers, as you all have said. The problem is, if I use something like Mircle Gro's granulated rose fertilizer, they'll eat that too...and it can't be good for them. So looks like I'm stuck using liquid fertilizer in the back, which is so much more work & time consuming to me! ugh!

Tammy

yeah, Seil, I get whatever is around, is cheap and does the job. If all else fails, I throw blood, fish and bone around.
As for roses......fertilise? - are you mad. Only the veggies get that and stuff in pots. My soil is in good heart after years of compost, horse and even chicken poo (goes on in autumn and top-dressed in spring), then it is on its own. As far as I can see, my roses and perennials all get by with nothing extra (treat them mean, keep them keen) but they are all much wilder, tougher and shrubbier than most garden roses.

This comment is just an effort to see if any of these rose lovers are still here. Would love to hear back from you guys. Seil..u r here right?

AuntB has posted recently and Seil posts sometimes. I most often see her on Face Book.

I know this is an old thread but I need to add my two cents. I have found that if I want my dogs to stay away from an area in my garden, I put down old thorny rose branches, and they stay away.