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Knockout rose fertilizer question

lovetogrowflowers

9 years ago

I planted two knockout last year and thus far they are looking good. Seemed to have survived our winter. Showing new growth for awhile now. A couple of weeks ago I shaped them a bit, had some long branches that just didn't look right, plus snipped a little here and there. I was told that working some bone meal into the soil was good for them. So I did that when I planted them as well. And after snipping a couple of weeks ago I worked some into the soil then also.

My question is this - will they do well with bone meal as their only fertilizer or do they need something else as well?

I have some miracle grow all purpose (yes I'm guilty of still keeping a little of it around) would it benefit the knockout roses or no?

If not, what should I be using! What strength and how often? First year with roses and so far I'm happy at how they're growing. Just want to make sure I do what needs to be done for them.

Thank you

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Comments (4)

diane_nj 6b/7a
9 years ago
Bone meal takes a looooooooong time to break down. Look for an organic-based fertilizer, such as Espoma Rose-tone (or Holly-tone, or Garden-tone) or Dr. Earth, or maybe there is something that is produced locally. The amounts to use per plant will be on the label (as it is with Mirable-Gro). You can use the Miracle-Gro, the products I mentioned will help increase the amount of organic material in the soil. Some folks use fish emulsion, manure or alfalfa. Just don't try to do too much.
Ken (N.E.GA.mts) 7a/b
9 years ago
Go ahead and use the Miracle Grow until it is gone. If you want to give them a good kick in the pants, buy some fish emulsion and in a two gal watering can mix the Miracle grow 1/2 strength and the fish emulsion 1/2 strength together and give each bush a can full every two weeks. Watch them bloom like crazy with beautiful foliage.
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Don't stress. I'm not quite understanding what you heard, but if you did damage the root system some its likely it will just be a bit slower getting settled. Keep it watered, but don't overwater make sure the area is draining well, and I would suggest some kind of a mulch to keep moisture from escaping long term. If anything I would suspect a bit of wilting but thats just a guess, I'm betting on it being just fine.
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When several of my roses (but NOT my two Double Knock Outs) came down with RRD, I waited until the following early spring to replant in the same spots, but only because I was ordering bareroots which are sent in late March/early April. Whether that 6-9 month wait was needed, I have no idea. The several cases of RRD did NOT spread to any adjacent roses. In fact, each case happened in a different year and to a rose nearly on the opposite side of the garden. I think we still do not know enough about this disease to make very many safe generalizations about it. Kate
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Dave...it's imperative that you stay ontop of keeping your Roses water..the soil needs to stay moist during their adjustment period..you can never go wrong with the finger test!...I always build a well of soil around my newly planted roses so the water will stay concentrated in that area to make sure the roots get the much needed water. If you ever dig up Roses and transfer them without soil...especially leaving them exposed to the air..they should be soaked in water to rehydrate...but I think you'll be ok by staying ontop of keeping them moist for the next couple weeks...Don't use any fertilizers whatsoever as you want your Knockouts to focus on getting their roots re-established in their new home...once you see them putting out new canes/leaves..they are telling you that they are finally settled in and love their new home..it is then you can indulge them with some Alfalfa Tea and Rose fertilizer or 13-13-13..I always put bonemeal in my planting hole for the roots..if you didn't do this you can sprinkle in the soil around the rose and use your finger to wiggle it into the soil and water...Goodluck...Jeanne
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Mom got one of the original KOs when it first came out. It did well for many years, although it DID black spot in my garden, but the last two winters finally did it in. It was a big, tall bushy plant going into the winter of 2013 but came out cut to the graft. It did grow back fairly well last summer but not to anywhere near it's former size. Last winter it died completely. I was sorry to see it go because it had sentimental value because it was one of the last roses Mom purchased. I don't recall ever seeing any PM on it but, as I said, it did BS here just like the rest of my roses. It was grafted and the graft was not buried, Mom never did that, and most winters it got NO protection other than what ever leaves happened to blow into the bed in the fall. It was a pretty hardy, vigorous rose all in all. It just couldn't take that double whammy of winters.
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summersrhythm_z6a
9 years ago
I use Miracle Gro, it works! :-)
nippstress - zone 5 Nebraska
9 years ago
Most "regular" fertilizers like Miracle Gro or any generic 10-10-10 pellets will add nitrogen and food for the rose. I go with about a 1/2 cup per well-established rose (don't feed new rose plantings), away from the base of the rose and under mulch or scratched into the soil, more if you have large or heavy feeding roses or highly porous/sandy soil (I think). You don't have to have anything specially formulated for roses, since roses can't read (smile), but you want to watch not overdosing the phosphorus in most garden soils. If I'm adding a standard fertilizer, I usually add a good handful or two of alfalfa hay (purchased from feed stores or pet stores in the small animal sections, if you only have a few roses). The alfalfa seems to add something extra in addition to the nitrogen that promotes healthy branching out. Special rose formulations of fertilizer usually have alfalfa already in them, but they're also a lot more expensive. None of the feeding is strictly speaking necessary if you have healthy soil and you're happy with the roses, but the food adds a little "zing" to the blooming. Just don't feed too often, as Diane mentioned, or you can get a lot of green growth at the expense of flowers. Once in the spring and maybe mid-summer if I feel like it is usually plenty for me. The liquid fertilizers like Ken mentions can be used more often, but at a weak dilution. Me, I'm too lazy for feeding that often as many roses as I have.

Cynthia

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