Question
Hi Again,
We are located in Canada on the south shore of lake Ontario. In Canada we are a zone 5-6. I am not sure how that co-ordinates with your hardiness zone map. It can get quite cold here in winter and very hot in summer. Is this more helpful?-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi;
I work in a large park in my city and we are presently rebuilding our Rose Garden. Can you recomend a fertilizer schedule to be used with new plantings as well as established plantings? I am interested in both synthetic as well as organic fertilizers
Thank-you for your help.
Answer -
It is a bit difficult to give a precise recommendation when I do not know your location, and therefore the length of your growing season, and the type of roses you plan on growing.

However, in general, you can use all purpose 10-10-10 fertilizers applied once in spring as the plant leaf out for species roses, and repeated just about at the end of the spring bloom period for all other roses.

For continous flowering, or repeat flowering roses, apply a 3rd application a month later. If you have a mild growing season with no or little frost, you can apply a 4th application in another 30 days later. However, do not fertilize within 3 months of a hard freeze.

Example, we live in NJ, and we fertilize in May (after roses leaf out), mid June and Mid July (for everblooming roses). We do not fertilize after August 15th, and first light frost usually occurs mid/late October (hard freeze in early to mid November).

Another, and easier, but somewhat more expensive, way would be to use a 4,6 or 8 month slow release coated fertilizer (Osmocote, Nutricote, Multicote, etc), applied in early spring. This is suitable for most climates. This would only require a single application.

Apply fertilizer 6" away from the crown and evenly spread in a 12" band around the rose. Work the fertilizer into the soil around the bush with a rake or your hands.

Answer
Apply first application of fertilizer in late spring as the roses leaf out (or when planting in april/may). Apply 2nd application one month later (mid June), and a 3rd application 30 days later (mid/end July). The last application only on continously blooming roses.