Roses

Would someone be so kind as to explain the difference between a tea rose and a standard bush? Is it the shape or the actual flower? Also, I have 3 roses, one a white bloom and bud, one a "drift" landscape rose, and one I have had for 2 years. The older one bloomed early, then had one stray rose a couple of weeks ago. Now it has funny brown spots around some of the leaves. The other 2 withered immediately and neither has any blooms. I treated them with Neem Oil, but am wondering if it is a soil problem? Missouri soil- quite clay-like, thought I amended it with tree and shrub soil when I planted. Any suggestions?

Hi Kristy. Part of the problem could be from the Neem oil. It is generally recommended that oil sprays NOT be used in Temperatures above 80-85 degrees, and NOT in full sun without some kind of shade cover for the plant. Below is a link for info on rose care that you may find helpful.

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/plant_pests/flowers/hgic2106.html

I would have otherwise said something different, I guess a tea rose is always a hybrid:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_tea_rose

Marcia

Oops...guess I kinda ignored the other questions...sorry. The wilting and leaf burn grabbed my attention.Thanks for catching that Marcia.

Moonhowl, I couldn't have answered the other questions (haha). I always think of tea roses as being small roses, but I don't know why.

Thank you! Gosh, I never even thought about the heat being an issue

LOL....I just saw a similar question not long ago...reminded me to put location and oil sprays together...

Kristy, I think the roses may recover...just make sure they get regular water when needed. You can cut back any seriously damaged growth. It would not hurt to give them all a very light feeding of 1/4 strength water soluble fertilizer around the roots.

Heat is hard on young plants and the oil tends to over heat the leaves and reduce their ability to breathe.

If you Google "oil sprays and hot weather use in the garden" you will find lots of info and suggestions.

Moon

Thank you all!!! I have taken some updated pictures...they are no better, but no worse. I am going to prune the damage off and am hoping it will come back next year. Now, because I think I have a serious plant addiction (haha) I bought another rose...a "Hot Tamale", it is considered a miniature rose. After I brought it home, though, I started to worry about whether I should plant it, I don't want this one affected with whatever the others have. Should I have the soil tested or try amending the soil and planting in a new location? Or, should I keep it in a container in the basement over winter?

I still think the damage you see is leaf burn and not a disease or pest. The miniature roses are, for me, even hardier than the hybrids. It never hurts to get a soil sample and amending the soil with good compost will certainly not cause harm to your new rose. You still have plenty of time for your rose to acclimate itself for winter.