fertilizers and roses
I fertilize my red robyn roses, and shortly afterword, they seem to start going bad. The leaves look like they are eaten..at about 2 wks. bush doesn't look well most of the summer. I use Miracle grow and reg. fertilizers, but this year, I thinking about just leaving them alone; maybe they will stay nice this year. Occasionally I have black spot, but am also afraid to add any more chemicals, so I'm not adding more stress. Any ideas? Thanks, Gail Bolton
"Hi
It's hard to say what's bothering your plants without seeing them in person, but you could have an insect pest that's not related to your feeding regimen. But, instead of Miracle Gro you might want to use a slow-release granular fertilizer that you scratch around the base of the plants in springtime. Then you are done. There are also some brands that also include a systemic insecticide if you want to go that route. You will find a variety of these products at your local home center such as Lowe's, Wal-Mart or Home Depot."
