What is your favorite fertilizer that you use?

14 years ago

The one I use and that I hear a lot of people using is Dr. Earth for my roses every other month. Do you like using that fertilizer as well? It's organic at least, or is there something better you use and how often?

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Comments (6)

Terry Crawford
14 years ago
I use RoseTone on a monthly basis starting in April and ending in August. The new formula is organic, and the roses thrive and seem well-fed. I also brew alfalfa tea to encourage basal breaks.
cjolliff
14 years ago
I use a foliar spray:

2tbls fish & seaweed extract (neptune's)
1/2 tsp molasses
2tbls azomite (great stuff for trace minerals, and as a compost additive. Get it if you can find it)
1/8 tsp super thrive
1 gal non-chlorinated water.

I spray top and undersides of the rose, as well as the stems and soil. Good immune boosting spray. I am also doing alfalfa tea this seaon.
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dublinbay z6 (KS)
14 years ago
Ah, such conscientious gardeners! Being a somewhat lazy gardener myself and just unable to cope with the HOT, HOT, HOT months of July and August, I have come up with a program that works for me.

The earliest spring feed is RoseTone (I believe it is cheaper than Dr. Earth, according to some earlier posts). A month later I switch over to the continuous feeds like Osmocote (it lasts for 3-4 months, depending on the type you buy). That way my roses are taken care of during the super hot months and I don't have to risk heat exhaustion giving them monthly feeds during that time.

In the spring, I also use alfalfa pellets once or twice --depending again on how ambitious I feel. And I've been known on occasion to spread manure around each rose--some years, but not others. Again, depends on how much energy I have.

Oh well, it works for me. : )

Kate
curlydoc
14 years ago
My favorite is Dynamite from Jackson and Perkins, available on their website, high in nitrogen with all of the extra ingredients, applied in March to get the season going. Can be used once a season (used to be called Once and Garden Ease), but I may use it twice a season due to our long growing season. I also use half-strength Miracle Gro for Roses as a foliar spray once or twice a month, and half-strength Alaska Fish Emulsion as a foliar spray about once a month (stinks up the neighborhood for a day or two). I also put down composted steer manure available from Home Depot for 98 cents a bag and sometimes use Rose Tone, but that is expensive and only available around here at OSH in Fountain Valley. The most necessary ingredient is water, which I also use to keep down mildew by spraying the foliage frequently to keep the roses clean. Rosarians often like to putter around and do things with their roses and hosing them off with a water wand is fun and rewarding.
newyorkrita
14 years ago
I use Rose Tone in the spring and then I like to use the Neptune Liquid Seaweed Fertilizer every two weeks at the same time as I spray for fungus. At least thats what I did last year. This year with the no mixing hose end sprayer, I don't know how that's going to work out.
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
14 years ago
Dr. Earth is great, but expensive. I get the 50 lb bag of alfalfa meal. Most bang for the buck.

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What is your favorite fertilizer that you use?

Comments (6)

Terry Crawford

cjolliff

Related Discussions

dublinbay z6 (KS)

curlydoc

newyorkrita

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

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