It doesn't matter with Rosetone to me. The amount of readily available nitrogen in Rosetone is fairly low, so the chance of it burning the rose period is pretty low....nonexistent in my opinion from the ridiculous amounts I use of it. Theoretically, it would be more liable to burn if it was dry and already in the soil, but this isn't really possible with rose tone as it needs the water to let it sink in to the soil anyways. Personally, I try to put it down before it rains, because I like to have nature just do it job and it works the best then, but if it's sunny it's no big deal. I just water it in even if it's dry. I figure with such a low amount of readily available nitrogen, even if the soil is dry, the water will dilute the mixture and just mix in with the surrounding soil and the rose will enjoy the water to begin with...the added nutrients of the Rosetone are just another plus to make the rose happy.

It has to be DRY, very dry.

You got to entirely strip the deck. You created a rot-effect which you immediately have to sand the deck 1/8th of an inch with a sander you must rent. Just kidding. Step away from the deck and slowly put down the brush. Let this cycle of staining run it's course. You'll be back to staining in a year or 2. If you have a problem with blotching or whatever.. just come back if a problem arrises and get in touch with pressure pro's here on remedies.

Consensus on what? Watering? You are assuming there is only 1 right way and all other ways are wrong? Nope. If some body in GA doesn't want to water his, fine. If some body in MN want to, that's fine too. It isn't brain surgery. If you want to water them, do so. If you don't want to, don't and see if it rains. If it doesn't rain in the next few days then you can water them. It really doesn't make any difference one way or another. There is no such thing as consensus in gardening - far too many variables. Dave