In fc9bbe888b2a92c16943ce7ba93557c0@TeraNews Shiva wrote:
Someone quoted Johnny Becnel (SP!) as saying most of us overferilize.
He apparently feeds a nine-month slow release and lets the roses rely
on mulch breakdown aside from that and a single application of
organics early in the season.

Thoughts?

It depends on what you want from the roses. If you want regular flushes
of large blooms on strong stems, you need a lot more than that.

I've been using the 'Roses Superfeeder' version of Osmocote for years
now, and at best it's maintenance therapy. Good for mixing into the
planting soil.

I use a combination of organic and chemical foods to bring out the best
from my bushes. Some have reached more than 6 feet tall in their first
year and their performance is excellent. My ideas are at:

http://members.optushome.com.au/djhanna/

under the heading 'Cultivation'.