I screwed up...did I just kill my rose bushes?

I'm a new home owner and a novice gardener. I planted some rose bushes last year that did beautifully. I took the advice of a more seasoned gardener and cut my roses back a few weeks ago to help them get ready to grow again this spring. It snowed (in Mississippi!!!) three days later. I planted four new rose bushes on the same day that I trimmed the other ones back. Have I doomed my beautiful rose bushes?

Probably not. Most roses are quite hardy. Make sure you have them well mulched, but no mulch against the trunks. When you see new growth starting...any time between now and the next few weeks, fertilize them all with a liquid feed for roses following package directions. It would not hurt to sprinkle a little slow release fertilizer around them before you settle in the mulch.They should do fine.

We had snow here too but all my roses have tiny new leaves popping out. I agree with moonhowl that your roses will likely be fine--they're a lot tougher than you'd think.

Thanks for the advice! I saw the first signs of new growth yesterday. One reason I was so worried was because there is no mulch around the plants. I just planted them far enough apart that I could fit the push mower between them. Is there a particular liquid feed you would reccommend?

If the unexpected cold weather kill cause any winter kill, just prune off the damaged canes. They will recover.

Paul

I use Miracle Grow for roses as my liquid feed and Osmocote slow release....the osmocote is a little pricey, but does not require much and only gets applied about every three months. If I have a problem with pests or black spot, I use Bayer Select for roses. It stops the japanese beetles from eating the bushes up.

Thanks for all the help :) If these roses are any indication, roses aren't as finicky as people make them out to be. I'm going to buy some liquid feed between now and this weekend. It will probably perk up last years roses, too. They've been surviving on sunshine and water :)

Don't add any fertilizer until you see new growth and the danger of frost has passed.

Paul

I transplanted a rose bush last year and they are already getting new growth on them. I was afraid they would not survive because several times last year I forgot to water them! I think they are the miniature roses, I don't remember how they grew, I always wanted rose bushes, I just did not want to have to trim around them and I HATED the thorns, so I put them in a place that I could enjoy them and so can everyone else and I don't have to do too much to them. They get a lot of sun there and as you can tell, they are still alive, so I did not kill them, I guess they are stronger than people give them credit for.

Teddy, there are thornless roses available.

http://www.gardeningcentral.org/thornless_roses/thornless_roses.html

Thanks for the info.