there is a granular feed just for roses. I think Bowers make it. there are bound to be other ones on the market, you'll need to have a mooch at the garden centre.

With the wet summer last year I suspect that most roses had a hard time of it. I would have thought it rather early to be feeding anything so do check what the container says.

Thanks, I thought it was too early, we don't know what else the weather has for us. I will look round the GC.

Check out the RHS advice on feeding and mulching

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=153

I'd wait until March at earliest

I think it's a bit early yet, too. I do mulch mine in December with rotted manure, though. I would start giving a special rose granular feed at about the beginning of April. Have you pruned them back yet? We pruned ours lightly in October, and will do another, probably more radical tidy-up towards the end of next month, so the new growth can start in spring along well-ordered lines. We didn't have the wet that you poor souls did, and spring, when it comes, will probably move on faster (mid March, normally, and quite warm by the middle of April), so the timings may be slightly different. We still have blooms on ours from last month, peeking out from the snow. I know I should cut them off, but I don't have the heart!

Most of the old leaves have gone, they just look old and woody for 4 years old, maybe a hard prune will spur on some new growth.