Wet mulch against rose canes could cause fungal problems so keep mulch a few inches away from canes...

I'm not a big fan of using miracle gro chemical type fertilizers alone because they do nothing to improve the soil...

MiracleGro = Good old crack for roses.

How should I be applying all these fertilizers like bone meal and alfalfa or MiracleGro? Like put it right around the base where there is no mulch?

Yes, You can apply amendments and compost right on top of the soil. And then water it in. It will eventually get down to the roots. The Miracle Gro stuff is ok to use once in awhile, but also add stuff to feed the soil.

How about right on top of the mulch? Is that okay too?

You might lose some to the the mulch. I normally leave a mulchless circle around the base of the roses that I put ferts and amendments.

Thanks Buford. Also, how do you know when you've burned a plant with too much fertilizer?

Well, last time I did it, they all died :). It's hard to do it with organic fertilizers. The only trouble I've had is with granulated fertilizers. I put them on plants that were too young and they burned.

You can buy alfalfa pellets at an animal feed store for a very reasonable price. Just sprinkle the pellets on top and water in. My first year of growing roses, I purchased overpriced alfalfa, because it came in a box in the fertilizer section. Never again. I split a 50 pound bag of alfalfa from the feed store with a friend and still had enough for the following year.

Thanks jasmine, that's some good advice. I planted some roses I think in May or April and they just finished blooming a few weeks ago. I got some MiracleGro for roses and I just wanted to try it out.

I'm going to try and use both MiracleGro (occasionally) and some other stuff for the soil. What else exactly do you guys recommend?

You could try the Tones granular fertilizers which you should be able to find locally...

Plant Tone:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Espoma-8-lb-Plant-Tone-All-Purpose-Plant-Food-100047163/202258532

Or Rose Tone:

http://www.espoma.com/product/rose-tone/

I have no trouble finding Rose-Tone and some other organic fertilizers at Home Depot or Lowe's, often at a good price.

I'll generally scrape away the mulch around the drip line, measure out the fertilizer, gently work it into the top 1/4 inch of soil, and then put the mulch back.

You might find this link useful: Magic Elixirs for Roses.

Damn unfortunately the stores you mentioned don't have Rose Tone in Canada :(

I use good old bagged manure/compost. I have good soil for roses, sandy/loamy soil, no clay, well draining. I'm lucky because when the built our neighbourhood, on my street they brought in loads of dirt to build/even up. So when I'm making a new bed or planting I just add in compost directly to the area. I also spread compost around my plants. Then I mulch all my beds & I just keep the mulch from touching the base of plants. Jasmine's comment about buying stuff from feed stores is so true, way cheaper.

Do you have a dog? Dogs will eat bone meal and blood meal (and fertilizers containing those). Animals like raccoons will dig up you garden also looking for the bone meal. Alfalfa, compost and manure don't seem to appeal to dogs or wildlife. So which fertilizer is best for your garden depends on the results of a soil test and your local fauna.

I use composted yard waste myself...Plus in the Fall when tree leaves fall I shred some leaves up real good and throw on the rose beds also...Other then that nothing...

MiracleGro is crazy. I followed instructions to the letter and poured it over 4 roses. By the end of the next day I see new shoots coming up. This stuff is whack.