What to feed roses in April for more flowers

One of the best-kept secrets to growing roses? Knowing what to feed roses in April.

That’s right – if you’ve been wondering when to fertilise your roses, now is the perfect time to do it. The benefits are huge, from a better flowering period to stronger plants that are more resistant to pests and diseases.

I spoke to David Austin’s head rosarian, Liam Beddall, to find out what we should feed our roses in April. Below, you’ll find tips on the best types to go for at this time of the year, and how to strike the perfect balance so you don’t overfeed your plants.

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What you’ll need

I wasn’t sure whether I should fertilise my rose plant when I first brought it home, but some quick research told me one thing for sure: it’s essential if you want your plant to flower well every year and build a shield against rose diseases and other problems. Roses are ravenous plants, and they appreciate some food in the spring.

There’s always the question of what to feed roses in April, though.

‘We generally recommend a slow-release, granular-based feed, like the David Austin Rose Food,’ says Liam from David Austin Roses.

‘The benefit of this is that it breaks down slowly over the course of the whole season,’ Liam explains. ‘Roses are very hungry plants, and applying feed replenishes lost nutrients and encourages vigorous growth.’

Vitax Organic Rose Food, available at Amazon, is another top-rated slow-release fertiliser that can be applied in April. It’s suitable for pot-grown roses as well as those in borders.

‘April is the perfect time to do it, as the new foliage is emerging and this signals the start of the growing season,’ Liam continues.

So, how often should you feed roses in April, then?

Liam tells me that it depends on the feed you’re using. A continuous slow-release fertiliser generally only needs to be applied once at the start of the season, while others can be applied once in spring and then again after the first flush of flowers.

‘This encourages the second flush for repeat-flowering roses,’ says Liam.

Concentrated liquid rose feed, like Miracle-Gro Rose & Shrub Concentrated Plant Food from Amazon, can be fed every two weeks.

Although it’s a good idea to feed your roses in April, you mustn’t overdo it.

‘Do not over-feed the roses as this can do more harm than good by creating imbalances in the soil,’ Liam warns.

Feeding is one of the most important steps in learning how to grow roses successfully.