Weak stream of water. let them harden off (get used to the sunlight) for a week or two before starting your fungicide spray.

I've had Austins bite the dust too, Lady Emma barely broke dormancy last year and then croaked, so it just depends. The "cheap" ones might just surprise you.

Hi Redsox - what milkcartons did you get @ Lowes? I bought the J&Ps milkcartons Crown Princess Margeherta (sp); Beloved, Outrageous, Disneyland, Sixteen Candles, and Honey Bouqet. Some were own-root, so hoping them do well.
-terry

I'm waiting to see what will happen with the Costco bareroots I planted this year but so far they're all nicely leafed out and the shoots are growing quite well. I've never had any luck with bagged roses but I was "hoping" that since these were J&P that maybe they'd turn out a lot better than the $5 ones at box stores. I just had that overwhelming desire to buy them back in early March when no other roses were available! Veterans Honor that everyone talks about here had to go to my home as did Dream Come True, Mardi Gras, Diana, Princess of Wales.... I think it's part of the rose addiction - much like those with other addictions, if you don't come face to face with it, you can somewhat handle it but when you con touch it, smell it, etc then you can't help yourself. I figure you guys understand. My family just rolls their eyes and hopes to keep my "addiction" the family secret.