that's an interesting article, Zuzu.
What IF I added soil and compost around existing, mature plants to make the bud unions 6" underground? I am rebuilding the one bed that has my only hybrid teas. I think I'm down to only 6 hybrid teas out of nearly 400 roses. They died exactly the way Steve described it. The canes got smaller and smaller until they are down to a 6" plant with pencil-thick canes.
I could add one more layer to the stone wall I'm building around the bed, and just backfill. Would it hurt the shrub roses to have the dirt added? I add compost this way each year, but mysteriously it levels out and I have to add another 2" again the next season.
