It's the perfect time to top-dress roses, don't miss the second bloom

This is day 873 of Lanyao's daily original article

The three-step rose growing series: article 71

These days, the question Lanyao gets asked the most is how to prune roses after blooming. As for post-bloom pruning of roses, Lanyao has already covered it in previous articles. Flower friends who still don't know how to prune can look back through Lanyao's past articles.

Today Lanyao wants to talk about fertilizing after blooming. Actually, Lanyao has covered this in previous articles on rose fertilizing, but many flower friends are still unclear about it. Right now is exactly the good time to top-dress roses, so Lanyao will emphasize it once more.

The proper time to top-dress roses:Before roses enter summer, after the first flush of blooms, you should carry out a proper top-dressing. And right now is exactly after the first flush and the point when summer is about to begin, so it's exactly the good time to top-dress.

The purpose of top-dressing:This top-dressing is mainly to provide nutrients for the roses' second flush of blooms, and at the same time to let the roses store energy to withstand the hot summer weather.What fertilizer should be used?The top-dressing Lanyao is talking about here is applying a slow-release fertilizer, not a quick-release fertilizer. Quick-release fertilizer should be applied often, roughly once every 10 days or so, while slow-release fertilizer provides a continuous supply of nutrients. Unlike quick-release fertilizer, it does not need to be applied so frequently.

Common slow-release fertilizers include fermented organic fertilizers, such as chicken manure, sheep manure, etc., and also inorganic fertilizers, which are the Osmocote fertilizers we commonly use, and can be divided into two types: slow-release fertilizer and controlled-release fertilizer. Whether it is fermented organic fertilizer, slow-release fertilizer or controlled-release fertilizer, all are slow-release fertilizers and can all provide nutrients to roses over a long period.

But note: the nutrient release of slow-release fertilizer is greatly affected by temperature. During high summer temperatures, it easily causes fertilizer burn due to concentrated release of nutrients. Therefore, in this fertilizing plan, Lanyao suggests you do not use slow-release fertilizer. If you have no organic fertilizer available, you can use controlled-release fertilizer, which is relatively safer.

How should the top-dressing be done?For potted roses, before applying organic fertilizer, you can first dig out a layer of the surface potting soil, then spread a layer of fermented organic fertilizer along the edge of the pot, and then put the dug-out potting soil back to cover it. If using controlled-release fertilizer, the method is the same as for fermented organic fertilizer, but note that the amount used must not be too much.

Note:Many people are lazy and sprinkle controlled-release fertilizer directly on the surface of the flower pot, but this actually causes part of the fertilizer's effectiveness to be lost. It is best to bury it shallowly, or apply it in holes. Roses planted in the ground should also be top-dressed with slow-release fertilizer now to supplement nutrients. First, within a 20cm range around the rose roots, dig away the surface soil to a depth of 2cm, then spread a layer of organic fertilizer, put the soil back, and then rake it over with a rake so the soil and organic fertilizer are mixed.

The main purpose of doing this is to improve the soil and avoid compaction. Many flower friends don't know the difference between slow-release fertilizer and quick-release fertilizer, and after applying slow-release fertilizer they don't dare to use quick-release fertilizer. Actually this is a mistaken idea. After top-dressing roses with slow-release fertilizer, you can still top-dress with quick-release fertilizer, there is no conflict. The nutrient power of slow-release fertilizer is relatively slow and lasting, while the effect of quick-release fertilizer is very fast, generally 7-10 [days], so the application frequency of quick-release fertilizer is about once every 10-15 days.

Lanyao has said so much, do you know how to top-dress roses now? If you've learned it, then hurry up and take action! If you have questions, you're welcome to leave a message for Lanyao. Now that roses have started pruning, the pruned ones are relatively small; flower friends who need them can enter the shop to buy.

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