linrose, I bought that Bio-Tone, too, a few months back. I used it in the potting mix for some really big permanently potted roses. They're doing well so I guess it works.

I'm organic, too. I'm 3/4 done with my feeding, composting and mulching. Not TOO late but almost. I use RoseTone and HollyTone through the year, but this spring I got a 35 lb bag of HollyTone because it's cheaper. BTW, someone on this Forum informed us that RoseTone is 50% non-organic. What can ya do? I still like it, and they're aren't any other local choices. I have an old aluminum scoop that was my mom-in-law's that's a 4-cup measure, so I do 4 cups of everything - well, almost. I use the alfalfa pellets, milorganite, soil sulphur (coffee grinder works great for turning it into a powder), epsom salts (not 4 cups of the last two), and the Tone. I feed the whole bed not just under the bush. My beds aren't huge, so I figure I'm feeding the future rootzone and improving the soil for the earthworms. Then I heap composted horse manure on. Last Sept I put down some sawdust for mulch, so this year I had to rake it off and then replaced it on top of the CHM. I really like the sawdust. Today I moved a rose, and the soil was moist and BLACK. Yippee!!! It decomposes but not very fast. Also, since the sawdust depletes the nitrogen, that's another reason I put down so much "food".

For new roses I amend the surrounding soil with the same stuff, and in the hole I put a shovelful of bagged manure compost, a scoop of alfala and a scoop of milorganite. And I use Rooter's Mycorrhizae on the rootball.

This is only my 3rd spring for roses and heavy gardening. I think it's working - at least in my sandy garden.

I'm the same as you about remembering the recipes. That's why I keep it simple.

Sherry

Things have changed at Espoma. The old Rose-Tone was 6:6:4 and most of the nitrogen was derived from synthetic ammonium sulfate. If you go to the Espoma web site now, all of the "tones" contain only organic ingredients. The new Rose-Tone is labeled for organic gardening, has an analysis of 4:3:2 and contains a selection of beneficial soil bacteria. I assume the old version of the "tones" will be on store shelves for some time. The web site doesn't mention the change in formulation.

Here is a link that might be useful: New Rose-Tone

Wow, Mike! That's great news. Does Holly-tone have the microbes, too? That will save me money on the Rooter's, but my understanding is that the mycorrhizae have to actually touch to roots to be effective. I also read that Azaleas don't benefit from mycorrhizae. Don't know about camelias & other evergreens that are acid-loving.

Sherry

Oh lordy, Mr.Teas talked me into some bagged earthworm poop that he assured me will turn all my sorryass roses into star performers. His name is on the nursery building, so I bought the stuff and hope to goodness that he's right. (Lowering voice in embarrassment) I even bought the liquid earthworm poop to spray on the foliage. Please let it work like magic....

I follow the old adage, "Feed the soil, not the rose." I just keep adding alpaca manure, rabbit/chicken manure, mulch, and alfalfa pellets to the soil around my plants. If it this isn't enough for a particular variety, that particular variety may end up dying a slow death. The good news is that, if it dies, it will provide a spot for a different rose who may appreciate it.

Robert

Wow, that's great news about Espoma products. I checked out their website and it looks like all the Tones now contain the bacillus formula and are all organic. It is important to note that only the Bio-tone also contains the mycorrhizae. The Bio-Tone Plus has an analysis of 4-3-3. It contains a lot of the same organics as the other Tones.

I think there is controversy over the benefits of adding mycorrhizae to the soil as there are lots of types and most are species specific. I suppose if you have really "dead" soil it couldn't hurt to add some at planting time, I know it has to come into contact with the roots to be effective. I tend to over-insure my plants' survival and so I'm trying it for the first time.

The first time I heard about mycorrhizae's benefits was when I was planting over 100 Balsam Fir seedlings and I was told by the nurseryman to add lots of peat to the soil to ensure the presence of mycorrhizae. I don't know if that's sound science but I didn't take a chance and added the peat. Now I seem to hear a lot about it. I'm trying to establish a prairie planting and there are some prairie plant nurseries that only grow their seedlings with a certain type of mycorrhizae. And I think Monrovia touts that it only uses container mix with mycorrhizae.

I think I'll be using it whenever I make a new bed or plant a new rose. I don't think it'd be useful in an established garden.

I'm primitive: with me it's hay, hay, hay. We get a bit of compost from our heap, and I heap up prunings in low spots to decompose, and the garden does reasonably well. I'm not interested in winning first prize at the rose show; I am interested in having healthy plants that bloom well if they get some rain, and that can handle a bit of hardship. I'm willing to renounce the divas. This method isn't for everyone, obviously, but the gardeners and the garden here are all pretty happy.

Melissa

Mike, thanks for the update on Rose-Tone! They sell it at a local garden center named Calloways. Next time I'm there, if it's the new all-organic one, I'm going to give it a try.

Randy

I'm doing Rose Tone, Cottonseed, alfalfa and fish emulsion. I'm not doing the alfalfa tea because it it just too stinky. Last year I had complaints from the neighbors (we can't water and it didn't rain for a week after I put the tea down, figures).

I'm going to make liquid fertilizer using hydrolyzed fish (better than emulsion), alfalfa tea, seaweed liquid and humic acid mixed soon. I just have to wait for hydrolyzed fish fertilizer to be delivered to my house. It's actually cheaper ordering it online than buying a small one at local stores.

I did go to the local Calloway's Garden Center yesterday, and they had plenty of the new All-Organic Rose-Tone.
I bought a bag of it.
Thank you so much for this information about them going organic, Mike.

Randy

Thanks for the info Mike!

It will be Rose or Holly-tone (maybe Mills Mix if I decide to buy it this year), Mills Easy Feed (as my water soluble), dry alfalfa meal ('cause I still have a lot of it) and liquid seaweed mixed in my fungicide spray. I really, really, really need to put down a couple of layers of manure this year, and I might be able to get a tiny bit of homemade compost out of my bin, that will be exciting!

For me, Alfalfa tea/pellets, rose tone, magnesium sulfate, blood and bone meals, fish emulsion, compost and composted manures all work well.
Today, we had a lil end-of-Winter 'gotcha' here after a spate of high 70's and low 80's! Everything came out of dormancy.
I have a five gallon bucket of alfalfa tea with fish emulsion and a big scoop of compost waiting for it to re-warm up so I can put it down. As if I care what the neighbors think! I figure it will just mingle with the regularly wafting cannabis smoke from somewhere east of my place, and balance out! ;)
My schedule is so erratic, I'm sure I recently amazed the snoops by feeding my roses one warm midnight by the eerie glow of solar lamps. And I was wearing black, of course!
:P
albin

You sound like a fun guy, albin. I'll have to try the black outfit when I go out at midnight. Thanks for the idea. And also about adding a scoop of compost to the tea.

Sherry