On Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:55:44 +0100, "Alistair Macdonald"
wrote:

From a bed of around 100 hybrid rose bushes, this year again I have lost
about ten plants, this after a rather poor flowering season. The bed is well
covered with forest bark but which I feel is not allowing any feed to
penetrate satisfactorily. I want first of all to provide a better feed than
Growmore, and also to plant new rose bushes to replace those lost. What
fertiliser(s) should I use for the existing bushes and what, if different,
for the new ones? I have been recommended bone meal and sulphate of potash
with a handful of Epsom salts to each, both old and new bushes. I would also
appreciate any advice on applications.



Make sure the crowns are exposed properly for your climate and season.
I do not mulch my roses at all, but alternate feedings of rotted cow
manure and fish emulsion every two weeks and get excellent results.
Roses are heavy feeders. If you have long cold winters, mounding up
leaves for the winter is very good because they get some leaf mold.