Gardening

elleng

(137,338 posts) Wed Mar 7, 2012, 05:56 PM Mar 2012

Time to fertilize 'my' rose bush?

In northern suburb of DC, adopted neighbor's beautiful, tho scraggly, rose bush last year. Its showing signs of 'returning' to life now; weather's been on and off; snow flurries Monday, 60 degrees+ today.

Advice will be appreciated!

Thanks

7 replies

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Time to fertilize 'my' rose bush? (Original Post) elleng Mar 2012 OP

No. Just no. Cut it back before it puts out too many new shoots. HopeHoops Mar 2012 #1

Thanks, Hope. I cut it way back in the fall; was a scraggly mess! elleng Mar 2012 #2

I have been told to wait until the first roses appear and then fertilize. JDPriestly Mar 2012 #3

Thanks. Will wait. elleng Mar 2012 #4

I have rosebuds on three of my bushes. (Southern California) JDPriestly Mar 2012 #5

No buds here yet, but lots of spring action, elleng Mar 2012 #6

Great! Ain't Spring grand! JDPriestly Mar 2012 #7

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)

1. No. Just no. Cut it back before it puts out too many new shoots.

Reply to elleng (Original post)

Wed Mar 7, 2012, 07:10 PM

Mar 2012

With the weird weather we've had, it will begin to sprout far earlier. Cut the shit out of it now, old growth. Wait to fertilize it until it begins to bloom. It will want it then. If you do it now, even a "rose fertilizer" will burn it with nitrogen.