Iron deficiency in hollyhocks and roses

[ladybugz]

Can I combine Miracle Grow and 6% fully chelated iron in the recommended amounts and apply to plants or do I need to apply separtately?

[Clanad]

Sure... but you need to be certain that what you are seeing is actually iron deficiency. Do yellowed leaves appear near the top of new growth first, but then become generally distributed throughout the plant? This is the case with low iron availability. To assure corrective actions are appropriate, it's best to do a simple soil Ph test. Roses especially, prefer their soil slightly acidic (6.5) to near neutral (7.1). Problem is, if the Ph levels are outside of this acidic level, adding iron may not be helpful. I would consider using blood meal or bone meal since it's more readily taken into the plant. Hollyhocks almost exactly mirror the Ph level preferences of rosa... Good luck!