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Holly-Tone vs Rose-Tone

15 years ago

Can I use Holly-Tone instead of Rose-Tone? My soil is mostly Scott's garden soil. What is the required pH level to allow me to use Holly-Tone or Plant-Tone and how often will I have to use it?

Thank you.

Featured Answer

michaelg

15 years ago

Holly Tone is fine if you have a surplus of it or you find it on sale. However, the high-phosphorus analysis is not particularly desirable. Since Plant-Tone and Rose-Tone have more nitrogen (the most-needed nutrient), you can use somewhat less fertilizer to get the same result. Holly Tone and Rose Tone both contain ammonium sulphate, which is a mild acidifier. Plant Tone does not. Don't worry unless the pH is chronically below 5.5. All are very good products.

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Comments (9)

catsrose
15 years ago
Yes. You don't need to get neurotically scientific. If your soil is fresh out of the bag and you are planting new roses, don't fertilize for a couple of months. Besides preferring soil a wee bit on the acidic side, roses are not too finicky. Well-composted soil is better than fertilzer.
diane_nj 6b/7a
15 years ago
Yes, yes, yes. Apply the "tones" as indicated on the bag (usually 3/4 - 1 cup per plant once a month during the growing season, in our area that would be April - August). I've been using Holly-tone for years on my roses.

How long has the Scotts Garden Soil been down? If it is fresh, does it already contain fertilizer? If so, then as catsrose said, you don't want to use any additional fertilizer for awhile, probably not until after the first bloom flush.

Holly-tone has a different blend than Rose-tone, with a higher percentage of cottonseed meal, which is a bit more acidic. Usually not enough to be concerned about unless your soil is extremely acidic.
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markiz37
Original Author
15 years ago
Diane, the Scotts garden soil has been down for 4-5 years.
Lana
newyorkrita
15 years ago
I have always used Rose Tone on my roses. I thought it worked really well. Now I read that the Rose Tone changed its formula. I wonder if it will be as good as it used to be. I only use the Holly Tone on the acid lovers like my blueberries.
gnabonnand
15 years ago
rita, I just used Rose-Tone for the very first time BECAUSE they changed their formula. I was never interested in using it before.

Randy
artemis_pa
15 years ago
I considering changing from MMM to Rose Tone since the formula now sounds better.
newyorkrita
15 years ago
Well, The Rose Tone is what I can easily get locally so I am sure I will continue to use it. Some of the other fertilizers I have read people recommend are not available here and I am not about to mail order.

I know I should use it twice but I always do well using it in the spring and so far have never gotten around to putting on the second application. Doesn't seems to matter as the roses bloom just fine. I do add Neptune liquid Seaweed Fertilizer each time I spray the fungicide every two weeks and I think that does the trick.
michaelg
15 years ago
Sorry, my post above is obsolete. I didn't know they had changed the formula. Rose- and Holly Tones no longer contain ammonium sulphate and Holly no longer has high phosphorus. For roses, I would rather have Plant Tone at 5-3-3 than Rose Tone at 4-3-2 since my soil does not retain potassium particularly well.

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