QuestionI recently applied Miracle Gro with the hose attachment to most of the plants in my yard including six established rose bushes. One, a climber with dark, shiny leaves has suddenly gone yellow over about 25% of the plant and is dropping leaves. I have been watering routinely but a bit extra as we're in a super dry spell this summer (84 days without rainfall) and haven't noticed any problems until just a few days after applying the Miracle Gro. Have you any experience with this being a problem and do you think I killed my gorgeous rose bush? I sure hope not!
Answer Roses sometimes re-act to fertilizing when it is very dry. Miracle Gro was a very good fertilize but has been sold and I see that the new owners have changed the formula and have increased the nitrogen a lot. Climbers really need a lot of water when it is dry as they are vigorous growers. I would take a trowel and dig alongside of the climber to make sure you have made the water go down at least 6 inches. That is where most of the feeder roots are and the rest are just anchors. Use a soaker hose or a slow dribble if it hasn't gone down. Then wash well with a strong force of water, all the climber's leaves in case it has re-acted to the fertilizer. The other roses would like to be washed too as the leaves can take up the water. Roses can put out three sets of leaves so the leaves will come back. Climbers really like cool roots so any type of mulch placed all around the base is a good idea and saves the water too. We too are having LONG periods without rain and I garden in sandy soil on a well. Most of my modern roses are producing poor blooms and lots of leaves are turning yellow. In hot spells it is hard to keep roses performing as they should. I honestly think the climber didn't like the fertilizer and may not be getting enough water. Hope this helps.
