Fertilizer for roses

Question

I am totally ignorant about roses. The articles I have read recommend an (1) organic fertilizer, with (2) a balanced NPK. I am having trouble locating such a product. Can you give me some specific brand and product names.

Answer 1

Use either an organic type rose food, such as a local product called Mile Hi Rose Food or Epsoma Rose Food or an organic based rose food such as Gro Rich Rose and Perennial Food. By balanced, we do not mean totally even, just not real heavy on the nitrogen end of things. Too much nitrogen leads to lots of foliage and few to none on the blooms production. Here is a link to one I use: https://www.therichlawncompany.com/products/gro-rich-products/rose-perennial-food/ Jobe’s markets a organic rose food that is called Jobe’s Organic Knock Out Rose food. It is a good product that can be fed to any roses with great results. They are trying to pick up on the popularity or the Knock Out Roses by using the name on the fertilizer but it is good for all roses. It has an NPK of 3-4-3 so is nicely balanced. Remember that the N stands for UP, the P stands for DOWN and the K stands for All Around. UP = upper part of the plant. DOWN = root system builder and K = good for all parts of the plant or bush.