Proper fertilization is of the utmost importance to keep your garden as beautiful as possible. But with hundreds of the rose fertilizers available out there, which one is best?
You can buy the best fertilizer for roses listed below with the assurance that you will be obtaining the proper ingredients for the greatest results guaranteed each container.
Here are the best fertilizers for roses you can buy in 2024:
- Best Overall: Osmocote 274850 Smart-Release Plant Food
- Best For More Abundant Flowers: Jobe’s 09423 Organics Flower & Rose Granular Fertilizer
- Best For Root Growth: Espoma PR8 Organic Perlite
- Best For Young Plants: Miracle-Gro Rose Plant Food
- Best Spikes: Jobe's Organics Rose & Flower Fertilizer Spikes
- Best Liquid Fertilizer: Miracle-Gro Pour and Feed Liquid Plant Food
- 3-In-1 Formula: Bayer Advanced 701110A All-in-One Rose and Flower Care Granules
Best Overall: Osmocote 274850 Smart-Release Plant Food
- Fortified with 11 essential nutrients
- Feed up to 6 full months; apply with confidence to potted plants, indoors or outdoors;
- No burn pledge when used as directed
- Work with virtually all plant varieties, in all growing conditions
- Not good for the environment
Our top pick for the best fertilizer for roses is the Osmocote 274850 Plus Outdoor and Indoor Smart-Release Plant Food.
Fortified with up to 11 different nutrients, this product by Osmocote is such a great way to feed your roses with nutrients. What we love most about this fertilizer is the no-burn formula allowing you to use this solution for all of your gardening projects in the scorching heat ò summer months without any problems. Whether you feed your roses with this fertilizer when they are new or blooming, you will enjoy a picture-perfect garden all season long.
What seems to be a downside is small white plastic balls introduced into the environment when the fertilizer has dissolved off.
| Osmocote 274850 Smart-Release Plant Food Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | N/A |
Where to Use | Over your soil |
Coverage Area | N/A |
Benefits | Encourage roses to grow strong and vibrant, promote more blooms and appealing colors |
Fertilizer Analysis | 15-9-12 |
Available Sizes | 1lb, 2 lbs, and 8 lbs |
Highlight Features | 11 essential nutrients |
Whether you plant your roses in the ground or a pot, the Osmocote 274850 Smart-Release Plant Food helps them grow stronger and stay longer.
Best For More Abundant Flowers: Jobe’s 09423 Organics Flower & Rose Granular Fertilizer
- OMRI-listed for organic gardening by USDA
- Improve soil conditions
- Enhanced with Jobe’s Biozome
- Safe for use around children and pets
- Help resist disease, insects, and drought during the growing season
- Not safe for other plants
Organic gardeners will find an OMRI-certified organic product like the Jobe’s 09423 Organics Flower & Rose Granular Fertilizer an excellent choice for more abundant charming flowers.
This product is specially formulated with a guaranteed macro-nutrient NPK ratio of 3-5-3 and the Jobe’s exclusive Biozome - the proprietary microorganism archaea that will aggressively encourage the material breakdown process for quicker results.
This power-packed, organic granular, fast-acting fertilizer supplement life-giving nutrients to not your flowers but also the soil, thus improving your plant’s living environment. The risk of drought, disease, and insects is reduced so that you can get more blooms from your roses.
Though this product is safe for use around children and pets, some users reported the side effect when they apply it near their tomato plants.
| Jobe’s 09423 Organics Flower & Rose Granular Fertilizer Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Apply at planting and every 6 weeks |
How to Use | Sprinkle it over your soil |
Coverage Area | N/A |
Benefits | Produce more flowers |
Fertilizer Analysis | 3-5-3 |
Available Sizes | 4 lbs, and 16 lbs |
Highlight Features | Easy pour bag Jobe’s Biozome included for aggressively breaking down material for faster results |
Jobe’s 09423 Organics Flower & Rose Granular Fertilizer will produce an abundance of fabulous roses.
Best For Root Growth: Espoma PR8 Organic Perlite
- Organic approved
- Help loosen heavy soils and prevent compaction
- 100-percent all-natural perlite for organic gardening
- Affordable
- Too much dust
Improving heavy soils has never been easier. This high-quality soil product from Espoma is organic-certified, attractively packaged, and enhanced with all-natural perlite, facilitating excess water to seamlessly drain away while retaining just a little moisture, improving drainage, and getting all essential nutrients for your roses’ growth.
Moreover, its granulated formula significantly decreases the risk of the fertilizer directly absorbed via your roses and burning through them during the application process as well as save you from worrying about your trees’ nutrient lack for such a long time.
What users don’t like about the Espoma PR8 Organic Perlite is that the bags are mostly packed with petit particles and white dust.
Although this fertilizer can improve soil health, in case your soil has been depleted, it won't be enough. I suggest using compost to add nutrients as well as reducing soil compact, which can do good for the root of your roses.
| Espoma PR8 Organic Perlite Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Apply at planting and every 3 months |
How to Use | Sprinkle it over the soil |
Coverage Area | N/A |
Benefits | Aerate soil and promote root growth |
Fertilizer Analysis | N/A |
Available Sizes | 8 quarts |
Highlight Features | 100-percent all natural perlite |
Espoma PR8 Organic Perlite promotes your roses’ steady root growth and more vibrant blooms.
Best For Young Plants: Miracle-Gro Rose Plant Food
- Instantly feed to grow bigger, more beautiful roses versus unfed plants
- Endorsed by the American Rose Society
- Easy to use with the Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder or your watering can
- Guaranteed not to burn when used as directed
- Ideal for all types of roses
- Leaching problem
If you want to see the great results quickly (maybe within 10 to 14 days), there is no better choice than the Miracle-Gro Rose Plant Food whose life-sustaining nutrients can be easily absorbed through your roses’ roots.
With a balanced blend of NPK ratio of 18-24-16 macro-nutrients, this water-soluble rose food provides an ideal amount of nourishment for your rose bushes to grow and flourish.
However, like any other water-soluble fertilizer out there, gardens with sandy soil or the ones that receive a lot of rain might have leaching issues. Also, you should strictly follow the manufacturer's instruction on the water-to-fertilizer ratio since an overload of products can burn the plant foliage.
| Miracle-Gro Rose Plant Food Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Feed every 1-2 weeks during the growing season |
How to Use | Sprinkle around the plant or mix it into the soil |
Coverage Area | Approximately 600 sq. ft. |
Benefits | For bigger, more beautiful roses vs. unfed plants |
Fertilizer Analysis | 18-24-16 |
Available Sizes | 1.5 lbs. |
Highlight Features | Quick result |
Miracle-Gro Rose Plant Food promotes more, beautiful blooms for all types of roses.
Best Spikes: Jobe's Organics Rose & Flower Fertilizer Spikes
- Safe for use around kids & pets
- Safe for the environment
- Help roses resist disease
- OMRI-listed for organic gardening by USDA
- Improve soil conditions
- Prevent waste and run-off
- Work at a slower rate
For a dreamlike garden bursting with fabulous rose blooms, the premium fertilizer spike from Jobe's will create a healthy ecosystem for your organic gardens and produce an abundant harvest of disease-resistance plants.
Jobe's has manufactured an excellent blend of essential nutrients that your roses crave. This 100% organic fertilizer formula contains an NPK ratio of 3-5-3 macro-nutrient mix and a rich mix of feather meal and bone meal plus Jobe’s Biozome - extremely aggressive proprietary microorganism archaea that makes your bushes highly-drought & insect-resistant as well as improve overall plant health and rose-blooming performance.
Though the Jobe's Organics Rose & Flower Fertilizer Spikes work at a slower rate, it is still helpful in steering clear of spreading harsh chemicals in your gardens. In addition, slow- release fertilizer comes in handy when you are short of time but still want to feed your flowers properly.
| Jobe's Organics Rose & Flower Fertilizer Spikes Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Early spring when new growth begins |
How to Use | Sprinkle around the plant or mix it into the soil |
Coverage Area | Approximately 600 sq. ft. |
Benefits | Promote root growth, improve soil quality, help roses resist disease |
Fertilizer Analysis | 3-5-3 |
Available Sizes | 10 spikes per waterproof resealable package |
Highlight Features | Contain Jobe Biozome - extremely aggressive proprietary microorganism archaea |
Jobe's Organics Rose & Flower Fertilizer Spikes ensure to feed your roses all season long without a run-off.
Best Liquid Fertilizer: Miracle-Gro Pour and Feed Liquid Plant Food
- No mixing required
- Instantly feed all potted plants
- For indoor and outdoor container plants
- Affordable
- Not for use on in-ground plants
This high-performing Pour and Feed Liquid Plant Food from Miracle-Gro contains a liquid gold formula that will produce a bountiful land of the biggest and most spectacular flowers.
As well as feeding rose bushes, this product can be used for other indoor and outdoor container plants. You can simply apply the fertilizer directly to the soil or use a garden hose or a spray bottle.
And like other liquid solutions, the Miracle-Gro Pour and Feed Liquid Plant Food might be highly-concentrated and can make baby or in-ground plants sick. Therefore, make sure to follow label instructions for the amount to use.
| Miracle-Gro Pour and Feed Liquid Plant Food Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Feed every 1-2 weeks |
How to Use | Apply directly to the soil |
Coverage Area | Approximately 600 sq. ft. |
Benefits | Promote root growth, improve soil quality, help roses resist disease |
Fertilizer Analysis | N/A |
Available Sizes | 32 ounces |
Highlight Features | Ready-to-use plant food |
Miracle-Gro Pour and Feed Liquid Plant Food provides instant nutrients to your roses for quick results spotted.
3-In-1 Formula: Bayer Advanced 701110A All-in-One Rose and Flower Care Granules
- Easy and convenient to use
- No spraying or mixing required
- One application protects against insects and diseases for up to 6 weeks
- Disease-control
- Treat up to 32 rose bushes
- Control Black Spot, Powdery Mildew, Rust & Southern Blight
- Hard-to-remove cap
Last on our list of the best fertilizer for roses is this exclusive 3-in-1 formula by BioAdvanced that can feed your roses and guard them against insects, pests, and diseases for six weeks in only one easy step.
Moreover, the Bayer Advanced 701110A All-in-One Rose and Flower Care Granules has a simple application with no spraying or mixing involved, meaning that you can keep your prized roses stay beautiful without much effort!
The minor issue we have with this product is the hard-to-remove cap.
| Bayer Advanced 701110A All-in-One Rose and Flower Care Granules Specifications | |
|---|---|
When to Apply | Apply when plating For established plants, use any time after new growth appears Apply again every 6 weeks throughout the growing season - for a total of 3 applications per year |
How to Use | Apply directly to the soil around plants |
Coverage Area | Approximately 700 sq. ft. of flowerbeds |
Benefits | Promote strong root growth & more beautiful blooms, help roses resist disease |
Fertilizer Analysis | 6-9-6 |
Available Sizes | 4lbs |
Highlight Features | 3 systemic products in one: insect control Disease control and fertilizer Long-lasting result Rain-resistant packaging ideal for outdoor merchandising |
Bayer Advanced 701110A All-in-One Rose and Flower Care Granules is a 3-in-1 product specially formulated for your roses’ growth and overall health.
How To Choose The Best Fertilizers For Roses?
Spikes vs. Granules
- Spikes
- The easiest-fertilizer-to-use must be spikes. Since all the nutrients will be continuously released over time, at least 2 months and longer, all you have to do is to insert the fertilizer spikes around the drip line several times per year.
- Granules
- Granules are an easy-to-apply type. Just sprinkle the right amount of the product around the plant base to the drip line and water them with a watering can or a garden hose.
Organic Vs. Non-Organic Fertilizers
- Each type of fertilizer has its own pros and cons, so your final decision between these two will largely depend on each user’s personal preference. While organic fertilizers not only provide the rose bushes with all the required nutrients but also assist in improving and maintaining the quality of the soil where they are rooted, non-organic fertilizers can meet your plants’ nutrient requirements but will do little to create the perfect environment for their optimal growth.
- Though non-organic fertilizers are not organic in nature, they have a lot to offer. Some even contain several chemicals for protecting the rose bushes from both insects and diseases. To balance out the lack of minerals or synthetic soil-enriching chemicals, it is advisable to apply organic materials into the soil when you use non-organic products.
Fertilizer Analysis
- A quick note here about the fertilizer analysis printed on any fertilizers for roses: the N - Nitrogen is for upper (bush/plant top new growth), P - Phosphorous is for lower (good for strong root growth and making seeds, flowers, and fruits) and K - potassium is for overall (good for strong stems as well as the entire plant or bush systems). All of these three primary nutrients are well mixed together to keep the rose bushes healthy and increase their productivity.
- Each plant variety might need a specific level of these three elements, but roses tend to grow best with a roughly even NPK mixture.
Which Brands Make The Best Fertilizers For Roses?
Espoma
- Espoma has been specializing in home and garden products since 1929. Their product lines including potting soils, lawn & garden fertilizers, and 100% pure plant foods make growing plants attainable for gardeners of all levels.
Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
- With the ambition to make our world a much more beautiful place, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has been manufacturing innovative and effective lawn and garden products for over the last 150 years. From superior-quality gardening soils, grass seed, and pest controls to fertilizers and plant foods, all products from this Ohio-headquartered company are designed for both everyday gardeners and.professional horticulture.
Jobes’ Company
- From soil & potting mixes to leading organic fertilizers, Jobes’ Company has been distributing the most extensive selection of tree care products of up to 200 products to reputable lawn and garden retailers all over the world. No matter which garden products you choose, this Texas-headquartered manufacturer makes short work out of gardening working.
FAQs
What should I feed my roses with?
Everything growing in the ground can be fed with a good general-purpose fertilizer and roses are not an exception.
Do roses need special fertilizer?
Roses of all varieties need regular feedings -- with balanced fertilizers suitable for themselves, the garden soil, and the region where these bushes find themselves.
How do you fertilize roses naturally?
A supplemental fertilizer for roses is the mixture of 1 white vinegar tablespoon and 1 water gallon. You should replace one regular watering with this acid-boosting solution every three months.
Why are the leaves on my roses turning yellow?
The high level of pH and the lack of iron in the soil might be the reason why your rose leaves are turning yellow. The lack of oxygen when your soil cannot drain well or the roses are overwatered can also cause problems.
Are eggshells good for roses?
Eggshells are a rich calcium source of calcium that helps strengthen the walls of roses’ cell tissue.
Conclusion
Properly feed your roses with the best fertilizers for roses above to protect your bushes from a wide range of diseases and enjoy more magnificent flowers.
