I finally dug out the rose that failed to leaf out along with all of the rest of my roses yesterday, 'Sweet Afton'.
I hate to say that it was just one variable that caused the problem because there were several that probably caused the rose to fail, but I think the primary problem was root competition from the junipers on the slope above the rose. I think I failed to understand how that dynamic would play out during drought conditions ... or maybe even in regular conditions.
The rose had a root mass three times as large as the top growth and it still failed. There was no way it could compete with the juniper roots for both moisture and nutrients. The junipers won hands down. I won't be planting roses in that spot. My plan is to plant things that I don't care if they live or die in that spot. Superstition says, they will live if I don't care one way or the other ...
This is a photo of part of the root mass of 'Sweet Afton'
The slope above where 'Sweet Afton' was planted:
To end on a positive note ... those junipers are doing an excellent job of erosion control ..
