Episode: #10 4/11/06
Presenter: Fiona Bruyn

It takes a lot of energy to produce something as gorgeous as a rose and not just the flower but the fragrance as well.

Not all roses are like the old fashioned disease resistant variety that seems to flourish with a little neglect. To keep your roses healthy and producing lots of flowers you should use the best fertiliser. If you want plenty of roses and a healthy rose bush a bit of tenderness in the form of good food goes a long way.

A hungry rose is not a happy one and a stressed plant is a prime target for bugs and diseases so it is worth spending a bit of time and money feeding them.

First though, a little tip on how to position your rose in the garden. In winter they like to drop their leaves and have a bit of a rest so they tend to look a bit bare and stick like. For this reason, the best place for them is as a foreground planting with an evergreen shrub backdrop.

What you plant underneath your rose is also important. They really prefer nothing, just good mulch because they are pretty greedy. Mulch like Gro-Cubes will break down and improve the soil. Try a few companion plants nearby like chives, garlic or nasturtiums and they will draw the bugs away from your rose bush.

There are so many different types of fertilizer?s you can use but Fiona has some to recommend. Thrive Once a Year Feeder for Roses contains both fast and slow acting ingredients and is suitable for all rose types. The granular form of rose food contains extra potassium for bigger, better flowers and trace elements to boost the health of the bush.

Dynamic Lifter has been around a long time and for a really good reason; it does work. It is full of nitrogen to promote lots of leafy growth and also phosphorous for a good root system. Too much fertiliser can be bad for the plant so follow the directions and don?t apply during the heat of the day. Remember to water it in to stop any stress on your plant.

Featured Products

Thrive Once a Year Feeder for Roses

• A rich fertiliser for long term feeding of garden and potted roses
• Special combination of fast acting and controlled release nutrients
• Will feed roses for up to 12 months

Thrive Granular Rose Food:

• Specifically developed granular fertiliser for feeding established garden rose bushes.
• Fast acting granular rose food.
• Contains nitrogen for foliage and potassium for rose blooms and to combat pests and disease.

Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food:

• This is a versatile feed for all garden, potted and Australian native plants.
• Slow release nutrients improving structure and retention of the soil.
• It also encourages earthworms and is beneficial to soil micro-organisms