Mills Magic is the preferred food in our area, but to save money, I mix up a brew of fish emulsion, alfalfa pellets, superthrive, miracle grow tomato food, epsom salts and water. It all goes in a bucket, and I scoop out a few cupfuls for each rose. Stinks, but it seems to work. oh- Milorganite mixed in around the roots sometimes, too.
Our soils have enough phosphate so I have to watch that.
The hybrid teas are the only roses that get this special treatment. I would like to feed the rest; I just don't have time. Many summers, it's too hot to feed them, so spring is the main time for feeding here.
That's pretty much the same brew I make for the daylilies, and they respond real well too.
I quit using the bone meal and blood meal because it's expensive, and my dogs love it so much they dig when they find it because they think there's a carcass underground. If I don't find the uprooted plants for a few days, they're toast.
