Organic fertilizers such as blood meal, fish emulsion, etc., can also be used. Spred fertilizer evenly over soil starting 6 inches from the trunk and ending 12 inches beyond the bush's drip line. Lightly scratch nutrients into the soil to avoid injury to shallow roots. Irrigate before and after fertilizing to prevent burning. These foliar fertilizers provide quick results, but do not replace soil fertlizing.
Proper irrigation is necessary to produce quality roses in the desert Southwest.
Light, frequent irrigations cause shallow root growth which leads to water stress during the summer or windy periods. Where it stops indicates how deep the water penetrated. Deep, infrequent waterings allow air to return to the soil between irrigations, encourages roots to grow deeply, avoids root rot and flushes away salts. Determine when to irrigate again by testing the soil 2 inches below the bush's canopy. If the soil is moist, wait a few days and test again.