| My confederate rose, for the last 3 years, has put on buds later than usual and the buds are killed by frost. Any pointers on how to make it bloom earlier? Other confederate roses in my area bloom earlier. The bush has four or five 4" branches andare surrounded by canna lilies. I cut it back to 18" every winter. |
| Could your rose be in a location commonly referred to as a "frost pocket"? Sometimes in our yards there are areas that stay cooler than other parts of the yard. In my garden it is an area at the bottom of two gentle slopes. Frost tends to accumulate there much easier and dissipates in the morning much slower. This creates almost another gardening zone in your own yard! I have had to move plants out of the pocket and into warmer parts of my yard (such as near the house where they receive radiant heat) to avoid problems such as those you are having. Is the plant getting adequate sunshine? Could shade be delaying bud development? Is the plant adequately fertilized? Or over-fertilized with nitrogen? These are a few of possiblities I can think of. |
