Question
Dear Lynette, My roses (all 125 of them!) are in dormancy now with manure fertilizer heaped around the base.  I want to know when I should apply my regular rose fertilizer (I use slow release).  The roses are showing leaves now but have no buds yet.
Thanks!

Answer
Roses really love any fertilizer that is a slow release type and manure is a good one. Manure has a small amount of nitrogen in it so when you use your main fertilizer, so the roses won't need it until after the first bloom is over. The manure will be feeding them for at least 6 weeks. If you give the rose more fertilizer now, that will encourage soft growth and this only encourages and attracts insects to the new growth. Let them enjoy the manure and then wait until you give them anymore food.