In spring and summer, begin fertilizing when you have 4 to 6 inches of new growth and can see the first real leaflet with 5 to 7 leaves. When your rose is hungry, it is hungry.
During the first growing season with your rose, feed with a liquid-only fertilizer. Do not use any granular fertilizer as they are too hot and will burn the fine, baby roots, and can potentially kill your rose. We recommend using our Founder’s Fish Fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the blooming season. Always water in your fertilizer before and after application.
During the following growing seasons, continue to use a liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks or granular fertilizer every 4 weeks throughout the growing season. Don’t forget that the use of granular fertilizer during the first growing season will void our one-year warranty. So be sure to only use liquid fertilizer during that first season with your rose. (OmniMeal is a new granular fertilizer from Heirloom that is safe for use on first year roses. The use of OmniMeal during the first growing season will not void our One Year Guarantee warranty.)
Late in the fall, apply fertilizers with little or no nitrogen, such as bone meal or rock phosphate, to help promote root growth and next year’s blooms.
Stop fertilizing 6-8 weeks before your first typical frost date.
If you planted your rose in the fall, do not fertilize until next spring when the plant comes out of dormancy.