Beginner Gardening: What's wrong with my Roses?, 1 by terri_emory

terri_emory wrote:
OK, I should start by saying I'm not one to jump very quickly and suggest RRD.

If this were my rose I would wait and see what the rosebuds develop into. This really does look like new spring growth to me. If the blooms look like they should once they bloom then I would say that this rose is just starting to take off. For the first year a rose really just wants to settle its roots in. The second year it wants to establish new canes and branches. The third year is the one we all wait for when the rose really starts to work on bloom production for real. So I would give it some mild fertilizer once a month, clean up around the base of the rose and look into some systemic disease prevention products (you do not say it you want to do organic only or what). Do you have a co-operative extension agent in your county? If so you could call or stop by the office. They should have some good information online or in flyers and may even have someone to analyze your concerns with this rose. I should mention that if some of the growth bothers you in some way then cut that growth out. I can't tell from the photos, but I would get some systemic prevention going as soon as possible. If this rose had problems with white fly (did you say) last year then they will be back this year if they are not already there in larvae or egg form. We want to eliminate that.

I'm not familiar with this particular rose variety. I looked up Apricot Princess on Help Me Find and this was the result I got: http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.45764&tab=1

If this linked rose is your rose, then multiple clusters or cascading blooms is what your rose is bred to do. And it is not going to get to be a huge rose. So, if it were my rose, I would sit back and see what it does. I'm not into mini-floras, so I could be way off, but that looks like normal spring growth to me. Not all rampant growth is RRD and many roses demonstrate red or rosy color in their new growth. Especially in spring. So no need to panic yet IMHO. ☺ If it does turn out to be RRD then spade prune it and burn it. Do not plant another rose in or near the vacant hole. But, again, I don't think so....

Hope someone else chimes in who is more familiar with this variety, but most importantly I hope this rose starts to bloom and bloom for you.

This is my Red Cascade in the summer. This rose looks exactly like yours right now but the new growth is even redder and it is a bit of a climber so it is way bigger.



This message was edited Apr 9, 2014 8:34 AM