How to feed a rose

Feeding Roses

Feeding your roses will encourage strong, healthy growth and abundant flowering. It’s a relatively quick and simple task, yet is one of the most beneficial jobs you can do to ensure that your roses are at their most healthy and floriferous when summer arrives.

Feeding provides your rose with key nutrients to keep it healthy, allowing it to produce better blooms and resists pests and diseases.

We recommend using a granular rose food with an NPK value of 10/8/10. Granular feeds are easy to apply as they are simply sprinkled over the soil. They slowly release nutrients over time which the rose absorbs through its roots.

When to feed roses

In late March/early April, just before the leaves are fully open. Follow immediately with mulching.

Feeding during the summer

Feeding your roses appropriately is vital to keeping them strong and vibrant. If you've already fed your roses with a granular rose feed in March and June, then you can supplement with tomato feed. This provides an extra boost of potassium, promoting robust blooming and healthy foliage. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully regarding the correct amount and frequency of application, as over-fertilising can be detrimental to the roses.  

Step by step guide

Step 1
Clear the ground under your rose

Firstly, ensuring you are wearing your gloves, use your hand fork to remove weeds, old leaves and other debris from the base of your rose.
Step 2
Sprinkle rose food around the base of the rose

Sprinkle the rose food around the base of your rose. Spread the food evenly around the base of the rose, to the width of the canopy.
Step 3
Mix the rose food into the soil

Gently mix the rose food into the surrounding soil using your hand fork.
STEP 4
Water your rose

If the ground is dry, water the rose. For best results follow immediately with mulching.

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