What food to feed now?!

I believe now is the time to start feeding my roses - I think!  I usually give them Sudden Impact but wonder what other members use.  I read the topic on Munn's Better Bloom and wonder if this is better or what!  Advice please experts!  

Depends on when you pruned them, Sue,....but Seamungus is a safe bet on or after pruning.....

I pruned them mid July.  Haven't used Seamungus before.  What exactly is it please?  Have seen it lots of times!

Hope this will help

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Neptune how much do you use per rose?

brettv68 wrote:Neptune how much do you use per rose?

Nothing hard ...handful per bush...by giving light , you can repeat every 3-4 weeks...

Thanks Neptune!

I like liquid ferts, IMO they get to the plant a bit quicker, powered types, I normally soak in water then water on, anything pelleted, I crush/soak, then water in. As for slow release, the jury is still out here. The thing we are doing a lot of is 'worm juice' work. We had a long talk to a fella at our Field Days about the type of farms. He works for a company that sells one of the makes, in fact I think he might own part of it, he lives on the south coast of NSW(Wollongong) and is basically sand, along with the castings and some soil improvements he is having great results with juice.

David a few years back I did some experiments with worm juice and the results surprised me. I must admit it wasn't an extensive experiment and one swallow doesn't make a summer but the results were encouraging. I dropped off the worm juice because it was very expensive. Do you have any details on the product you refer to as it might be a proposition if it isn't too expensive?

We actually have a small farm(worm), after talking to this fella and how to make it work properly we have abundant juice. I saw a paddock of oats a couple of years ago, half done with juice half not, amazing difference between the two.

Ausrose wrote:David a few years back I did some experiments with worm juice and the results surprised me. I must admit it wasn't an extensive experiment and one swallow doesn't make a summer but the results were encouraging. I dropped off the worm juice because it was very expensive. Do you have any details on the product you refer to as it might be a proposition if it isn't too expensive?

It is amazing how a persons brain works. I saw the word swallow after experiment and I thought "*censored* he has drunk the stuff"

Then I read the rest of it a bit slower.

LOLOL!!!  I should stick to the vino or beer Gary!  Much safer!!

Thanks John.  I think I'll give it a go.  Have been using Seasol for years, but think this may be better.  Will also try David's trick of crushing before use.  I have often wondered about the granulated stuff and how effective it is over liquid.

John, do you also use a rose fertiliser, ie. Sudden Impact etc.?  How often do you apply such a thing?   

SueH wrote:.  Will also try David's trick of crushing before use.  I have often wondered about the granulated stuff and how effective it is over liquid.

Save yourself some crushing time and get yourself the granulated bucket(it has the green top bucket- 9kg)...same...same...no different in constitution...

SueH wrote:John, do you also use a rose fertiliser, ie. Sudden Impact etc.?  How often do you apply such a thing?   

Sue, I just don't use Sudden Impact only.......I am always on the lookout for different fertilizers and experiment with a lot to see what makes my bushes explode in my seaside sand/soil. I find that the best medicine for roses or really any plant is to look after the soil and keep it balanced as much as possible. IMHO, I think looking after the soil is more important than foliar feeding.....the nutrients in the soil only last so long before the ferocious feeders suck it dry

I fear "we" are now turning in to a grog forum!  Hmmmm ...... Seasol on the Rocks!  Hmmmm...... nice colour, don't think much of the bouquet!  .......    

Seriously though, John you are quite right!  looking after the soil is the secret. However, I do feel feeding the brutes is also beneficial as far as flower arranging goes!  

Has anyone tried the "new" fertiliser called Truforte? (?spelling)  It's supposed to be great for the soil.

Yes Doug, I also heard it was recommended by various well establish groups! (for wont of a better word!).  I will try Troforte; they are flogging it to death on the Garden Guru's program on TV!  Must have shares in it!

I tried Triforte Fert O lawn when Neutrog took Sudden Impact for Lawns off the market, (now they have brought it back on the market, maybe with different minerals). Best fertilizer I have found for lawns the Sudden Impact.

I have to admit John, I find Sudden Impact for Roses to be very good.  I'm trying to improve the soil (see, I do listen - sometimes!) as  the garden is new to me and I've just made a new garden bed, I thought I'd put some Troforte on too.  Dug it over again yesterday and the number of worms is great, so it can't be too bad.  I just thought I'd help things along, with greedy plants growing there.