Robert...I know that you are a big rose enthusiast like me ...so you apply your Alfalfa Tea the same time you prune your roses and Clematis ..for me in my Zone 8B is around mid Feb..so go for it!!...I also give mine either some 13-13-13 or rose fertilizer..BUT REMEMBER to never fertilize ONCE they are starting to bud out as you will only rush their bloom cycle...Jeanne

Robert, I put down alfalfa meal, along with a timed released fertilizer (osmocote) in Feb. after I prune the roses and before I put down mulch. Then I just water it in. I've been doing it this way for years with no problems. The clematis get whatever the roses are getting. The alfalfa and timed released fertilizer won't start working until the soil warms up so it doesn't hurt to put it down now.

Carol

I haven't fertilized any of my clematis yet since it is way to early for the last frost of the season and I don't want to do anything that is going to stimulate too much early growth that might get frosted back. Tonight they are calling for a low of 28 degrees so that does not bode well. Whether you should start feeding your clematis now depends on where you live and the likelihood that you might have bad frosts between now and your last average frost date. For me that is around the middle of April.

Thanks everyone. I'll put down the alfalfa pellet mixture I make for the roses..and when the ground warms up, I suppose the plants will use it.

Robert