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Hungry roses?

My very occasional professional gardener fed all my shrubs and roses with slow release stuff that only needs to be given once a season. After the recent very wet weather I had to do some deadheading and now my plants look dismal.

My question is would all the goodness in those granules be washed away by the rain and do I need to feed again?

I have got granules left over from the Spring and tomato food left over from last year and I have heavy clay soil.

 

Advice would be appreciated.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,058

    It's possible the rain has leached the goodies out of the soil and in any case, there's no harm in giving them a tonic of liquid tomato food which should help promote formation of new flowers.  

    I would also give them a mulch of well rotted garden compost or manure as this will increase activity in beneficial organisms which will work in the soil around the roots of your roses and help release nutrients.   Regular mulching of all your beds will help break down the clay and release its goodness to all your plants.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    Clay can be very fertile but it does need a lot of organic matter to beak it up.

  • Erica68Erica68 Posts: 65

    I had Strulch put down. I presume it is the same sort of stuff. It stinks to high heaven so it must be good. I am now off to "tomato" my roses!

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Roses are very greedy, they probably need feeding at least twice in the season, so I think Obelixx is right.

    How can you lie there and think of England
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