Climbing roses are hungry plants! If you want them to reward you with a spectacular display of blooms, you’ve got to keep them well-fed. Here’s the lowdown on when to fertilize your climbing roses and what kind of “plant food” works best to keep them happy and healthy.
Keep it Natural for the Best Results
Think of climbing roses as “heavy feeders.” This means they pull a ton of nutrients out of the soil at their planting site. That energy is exactly what allows them to produce those gorgeous, fragrant flowers we all love. However, more isn’t always better—you definitely don’t want to overdo it. Over-fertilizing can actually lead to more problems than it solves.
If you’ve just put a new climbing rose in the ground, a little compost is your best friend. Just mix some into the soil at the planting site, and let the roots do the rest of the work. I usually recommend skipping synthetic fertilizers if you can. Too much chemical fertilizer can actually make your roses more susceptible to fungal diseases. By sticking to natural methods, you’re improving the soil quality long-term, creating the perfect environment for your roses to thrive.
Your Seasonal Feeding Schedule
To keep your roses going strong, aim to fertilize at these key times:
- April: Give them their first boost of the season.
- After the first bloom: Feed them again once the first flush of flowers fades.
- August: This should be your final feeding of the year.
Organic fertilizers are the way to go here. Well-rotted manure (like cow manure) is a classic choice, but a high-quality organic rose fertilizer works wonders too—these are specifically formulated with the exact nutrients roses crave. Just a heads up: if you’re growing climbing roses in containers, you’ll need to be a bit more diligent. Potted plants run through nutrients much faster than those in the ground, so they’ll need a little extra TLC to stay vibrant.
