Knockout rose fertilizer question

11 years ago

I planted two knockout last year and thus far they are looking good. Seemed to have survived our winter. Showing new growth for awhile now. A couple of weeks ago I shaped them a bit, had some long branches that just didn't look right, plus snipped a little here and there. I was told that working some bone meal into the soil was good for them. So I did that when I planted them as well. And after snipping a couple of weeks ago I worked some into the soil then also.

My question is this - will they do well with bone meal as their only fertilizer or do they need something else as well?

I have some miracle grow all purpose (yes I'm guilty of still keeping a little of it around) would it benefit the knockout roses or no?

If not, what should I be using! What strength and how often? First year with roses and so far I'm happy at how they're growing. Just want to make sure I do what needs to be done for them.

Thank you

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Comments (4)

diane_nj 6b/7a
11 years ago
Bone meal takes a looooooooong time to break down. Look for an organic-based fertilizer, such as Espoma Rose-tone (or Holly-tone, or Garden-tone) or Dr. Earth, or maybe there is something that is produced locally. The amounts to use per plant will be on the label (as it is with Mirable-Gro). You can use the Miracle-Gro, the products I mentioned will help increase the amount of organic material in the soil. Some folks use fish emulsion, manure or alfalfa. Just don't try to do too much.
Ken (N.E.GA.mts) 7a/b
11 years ago
Go ahead and use the Miracle Grow until it is gone. If you want to give them a good kick in the pants, buy some fish emulsion and in a two gal watering can mix the Miracle grow 1/2 strength and the fish emulsion 1/2 strength together and give each bush a can full every two weeks. Watch them bloom like crazy with beautiful foliage.
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summersrhythm_z6a
11 years ago
I use Miracle Gro, it works! :-)
nippstress - zone 5 Nebraska
11 years ago
Most "regular" fertilizers like Miracle Gro or any generic 10-10-10 pellets will add nitrogen and food for the rose. I go with about a 1/2 cup per well-established rose (don't feed new rose plantings), away from the base of the rose and under mulch or scratched into the soil, more if you have large or heavy feeding roses or highly porous/sandy soil (I think). You don't have to have anything specially formulated for roses, since roses can't read (smile), but you want to watch not overdosing the phosphorus in most garden soils. If I'm adding a standard fertilizer, I usually add a good handful or two of alfalfa hay (purchased from feed stores or pet stores in the small animal sections, if you only have a few roses). The alfalfa seems to add something extra in addition to the nitrogen that promotes healthy branching out. Special rose formulations of fertilizer usually have alfalfa already in them, but they're also a lot more expensive. None of the feeding is strictly speaking necessary if you have healthy soil and you're happy with the roses, but the food adds a little "zing" to the blooming. Just don't feed too often, as Diane mentioned, or you can get a lot of green growth at the expense of flowers. Once in the spring and maybe mid-summer if I feel like it is usually plenty for me. The liquid fertilizers like Ken mentions can be used more often, but at a weak dilution. Me, I'm too lazy for feeding that often as many roses as I have.

Cynthia