Which fertiliser do you use?

Hi everyone
I am not going to put fertiliser on now but am curious what other folk use on their roses. Why do some people use chicken pellets, there isn't any potash in them is there? I normally just use Toprose and perhaps also a small amount of potash.

Val

 

How come? Your roses are excellent but I thought they needed feeding regularly.

Val

 

Toprose is excellent but I find a horse manure mulch is just as good and free. Do you think you have a problem with your roses Val?

 

I'm on heavy clay which I've improved well over time. I throw down some chicken pellets in March/April then top dress to approx 3 inches from the stem with my own compost. The longer flowering varieties sometimes get a tomorite feed around June/July.

There is Potash in chicken pellets Gemini, just not a huge amount.

 

No, no problems yet I was just curious what other folk use. I can't use horse manure the dogs would EAT it!!!!


Val

 

In the past, I usually just put a shovel or two of compost around the base and sometimes a handful of rose fertilizer. However, this past couple of seasons I have been trying controlled release fertilizer Westland Feed All which is 6 month with an NPK of 14-5-28 - a ratio of 2.8-1-5.6 which seems fine on the N an the P if a little enthusiastic on the K side. Never-the-less my roses seemed very happy with it - especially the ones in containers.

 

Lovely healthy foliage as well!! Have you had these long?

Val

 

Hi Val

Felicia (top) is about 11 years old. The others in containers are in their 3rd year. They do get an occasional spray with Rose Clear to fend off blackspot mainly.

Kevin

 

What size containers are they in? I have just planted some in containers.

Val

 

I am currently using Sankey 46 cm bell pots which hold approximately 25 liters of mix.

Kevin