| I can't seem to get all my rose bushes to come back up every year. A couple of them will but a few of them always die. Any suggestions? |
| You may not be protecting your roses in the winter, or you are choosing less-hardy roses for your garden. According to Kansas State University, "Kansas gardens need winter protection since temperatures drop as low as 10 to 15?F for periods of at least 2 weeks at a time. Roses should be sprayed with a fungicide first and then covered with loose, well-drained soil or compost after most of the foliage has dropped. The mound should be about 8 to l0 inches high. Lay straw or hay over the soil mound and canes after the first hard freeze to protect the plant from fluctuating temperatures. Excessively tall canes should be pruned to a height of 36 inches to prevent being whipped by strong winter winds. Roses should be covered by Thanksgiving. The insulating effect of the mounds often attracts small rodents that feed on the bark of the canes. Insects and diseases such as borers, cankers, leaf spots and other fungal diseases can result from this injury. The biggest problem from winter protection is mechanical damage to new and old growth when removing the protection. However, it is better to protect the plants than lose them from winterkill. Most insects and diseases can be treated in the spring." Here are some recommended roses for your garden: Double Delight (Red blend), Mr. Lincoln (Dark red), Touch of Class (Pink blend), Garden Party (White), Tropicana (Orange red), Pristine (White), Peace (Yellow blend), Chrysler Imperial (Dark red), Granada (Red blend), Paradise (Mauve blend). |
