I agree. I do a general scattering in spring once things start moving with extra dollops on things like roses and clematis and shrubs and then more occasional general scattering until mid to late June. Doing it later than June can lead to soft, sappy growth that gets hit by early frosts in October and damages woody plants.
Struggling roses and clems - after a hard winter - sometimes get a liquid feed of rose or tomato food but at the roots, not on the foliage.