An important part of caring for roses is regular and proper fertilization because roses are heavy feeders. Roses need the three macronutrients—nitro

Best organic and inorganic fertilisers for Roses

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2020-06-13 06:00:59

An important part of caring for roses is regular and proper fertilization because roses are heavy feeders. Roses need the three macronutrients—nitrogen (N) for foliage growth, phosphorus (P) for root growth, and potassium (K) for flower formation—plus various micronutrients, including iron, calcium and magnesium.

There are two basic types of rose fertilizers, organic and inorganic. Most organic fertilizers are naturally released to the soil more slowly and over a longer time period than inorganic fertilizers. The exception are inorganic controlled release fertilizers, which release nutrients over several months depending on soil moisture and temperature.

To have a baseline and take the guesswork out of which nutrients and how much the soil needs, it’s always a good idea to get your soil tested. A soil test will also tell you whether the soil pH is suitable for roses. Roses prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil, a pH of 5.5 to 6.5, so you might have to raise the soil pH by adding limestone.

Aged or composted manure, worked into the soil about two to three inches deep, is an excellent source of all three macronutrients, N, P, and K. Always make sure the manure is “aged”, i.e. not fresh, otherwise its high nitrogen content will cause fertilizer burn in the plants.