A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 overfertilizing roses

Hi everyone Can anyone tell me what happens when you overfertilize roses? My rose leaves are turning kinda brown and getting brittle. I did put on a heavey layer of fertilzer granules. i might have put on too much. the leaves are falling off and turning brownish/yellow and having comletley cripsy centers. is this overfertilizing or something else? I didn't put on any more fertilzer than last year and didn't have this problem. I would appreciate any input
thanks so much!

what's your weather been like? has it rained enough to keep the bush well watered?

I put to much time release rose fert on one of my roses in a pot and that is what happened. I was told I burned the roots. I think I killed mine.

yep, those are symptoms of fertilizer burn. it mimics the symtoms of no water combined with sun burn.

if the bush is still viable (has any green at all) you might can save it by flushing with water, after you remove any visible fertilizer.

thanks so much. the wierd part is is that parts of the plants are still blooming. thanks so much i watered them heavily this after reading the posts. hopefully they wont die. i wil have to be less liberal with the fertilizer.

happy gardening!

I made my own rose fertilizer and never had any "adverse" side effects with it. Basically the "fertilizer" was 1 can of beer, 1 cup of black coffee, 1 tsp. dish soap. Mix about 1/4-1/2 cup of this with a gallon of water in a watering can. Feed via watering once or twice a month from spring-Fall. During the blooming period, I would feed twice a month. I don't know why, but roses are natural alcoholics...they LOVE beer!