Question
Hello!

I have a hybrid rose garden in zone 4 - central Wisconsin. We are having a unusually warm spring. I uncovered one of my roses and there is growth already. Should I uncover the rest of them since its so warm? Also, what can I do to maximize growth of my roses. I heard of using banana peels?

Thanks!

Answer
Gardeners all over the world are coping with strange spring weather. The problem with uncovering your roses so soon, is that if you get a cold snap it will kill the new growth. If you have covered the roses with soil or ay the type of mulch, then I would just remove half way down, but not completely. Then in a couple of weeks time do what you normally do in your area to remove rose protection. Banana peels contain potassium which is in all rose fertilizers. Just placing them around the rose bush will take a long time to break down and will probably dry out with the sun on them. If they are ground up in a blender with water and then poured around the rose, the chances are much better the rose can use it. This will not however make your roses grow bigger. Try using fish fertilizer as a spray on the leaves. You can even use it as a drench around the rose bush base. Just add water to the liquid fish fertilizer 1 teaspoon to 2 quarts of water. For some unknown reason, roses seem to love fish fertilizer.