We planted a rose garden in the spring. While they blossomed nicely in the following couple of months or so, this recent heat wave we experienced seems to have drained a lot out of them. I read where you advised the one member to not "choke" the plants with mulch so I took immediate action and pushed the mulch back from the bases. I have been faithful to water them each and every night. I'd like to know if their behavior is normal considering post heatwave trauma or are there other measures I can take.
Which brings me to my next question. What are acceptable pruning tools? A clean utility knife? Common household scissors? We have yet to prune. I also saw the thread concerning suckers. Is that all the information I need to care for these plants? [url=https://s472.photobucket.com/albums/rr85/sailor86_bucket/?action=view¤t=rosegarden0802_2.jpg][img]https://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr85/sailor86_bucket/th_rosegarden0802_2.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://s472.photobucket.com/albums/rr85/sailor86_bucket/?action=view¤t=rosegarden0802_1.jpg][img]https://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr85/sailor86_bucket/th_rosegarden0802_1.jpg[/img][/url]
I would need to see close up photos in order to understand what might be happening with the plants. Is it only the fact that they aren't currently blooming that has you concerned, or have you noticed some other problem?
I would prune with small pruning shears, sometimes called clippers, and maybe a pair of loppers, if cutting larger stems. You can buy them at any garden center, nursery, and many big-box stores. If you intend to be serious about gardening, I recommend that you pay the slightly higher price for quality tools. In the end, you'll be glad you did.
Suckers are shoots that sprout from the roots, rather than from the main stem of the plant, above the graft. Yes, they should be removed.
You will probably want to familiarize yourself with the various diseases that can affect roses, such as black spot, rust, and powdery mildew, along with the more common pests, such as aphids and Japanese beetles.
I would prune with small pruning shears, sometimes called clippers, and maybe a pair of loppers, if cutting larger stems. You can buy them at any garden center, nursery, and many big-box stores. If you intend to be serious about gardening, I recommend that you pay the slightly higher price for quality tools. In the end, you'll be glad you did.
Suckers are shoots that sprout from the roots, rather than from the main stem of the plant, above the graft. Yes, they should be removed.
You will probably want to familiarize yourself with the various diseases that can affect roses, such as black spot, rust, and powdery mildew, along with the more common pests, such as aphids and Japanese beetles.