Black spot IS a fungus, but it would be good to know if you even NEED to spray for it.
Some roses need it, others don't.

Are there other people growing roses in your neighborhood?
Remind us what HTs you planted.
How much were you watering?
Does your soil drain quickly?

HTs are likely the toughest gig for your area, but surely there must be some that are better than others.

AND -- Let me throw this out for consideration:
There are a LOT of Old Roses that do really well in Texas, many without spray, or sprayed minimally.

Come on over to the Antiques forum, and you'll find a whole bunch of happy Texans. :-)

Jeri

Actually, it sounds pretty easy to correct.

If you are overwatering, stop. Some leaves will turn yellow and fall off, ignore them. This is not at all unusual for transplants, especially if you are doing it during a hot time of year. Do you have a way to give some shade to your new plants? If so, give them shade. Strategically locate a chair to shade them or if they are small, put a laundry basket over them. Do not fertilize until they are established. Just let things get into balance.

It's VERY easy to overdo it with roses. They don't *need* any feed their first year (or more), especially if you dug in some organics at planting. They need watered in on planting day, but they do not need excessive water while they are getting established.

I wouldn't think about spraying already stressed plants for disease - if they react badly to the spray - you won't know if it's the spray or something else. A little bit of blackspot or defoliation on new plants is not anything to worry about.

Just take it easy and let them get established. :-)

Hang in there, Lias. Everyone's threshold of tolerance is different, but you definitely have some more time bfore you appraoch anything even close to 'failure,' if you EVER get there.

Find some folks locally who grow roses, and get a couple really good books. And hang out here. I learn so much just by lurking, not the least of which is "Be Patient." ;o)

Don't believe everything they may tell you at a nursery. Remember, these people are out to sell plants/roses, and may not be as knowledgeable as we are on here, we who have been growing roses for 30 years or more. Also, and I am a big believer in this, join a local rose society so that you can interact with those who already are growing roses. Join the ARS. If you are going to get serious about the hobby, then jump in and do it all. In way of watering, in hot weather, rose bushes need 4 " per plant per week, whether it rains or not. And, BTW, you can plant roses in the heat of summer if you follow a couple of simple rules.

You are getting good advice from the others, and I'd like to add that when I accidentally over-fertilized last fall most of the leaves got brown tips.

I agree with those who have said that nurseries, unfortunately, do not always have knowledgeable workers. This forum or a local rose society would be more helpful to you.

I'll put a link that lists most of the rose societies in Texas, and there is also one in El Paso. You don't need to be a member to attend meetings or ask for advice:

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas rose societies

Thanks for the link. I looked up my local chapter, and was amazed to find out that they recommend using sand in a raised bed. I was always told not to.

I worked on the front yard roses today. I was going to plant the other 2, but it just was hot. Tomorrow I will do that, or maybe even later tonight.

I am still reading everything I can, so I am hoping my roses will be happy again.

I am one who sometimes overwaters and I am trying very hard to let plants dry out in between watering. Sounds like a similar plan would help your roses. Keep trying, it really takes years to understand any flower beds and to get the system down for caring for them.

I agree with some points as stated above:

New plants often get off to a rocky start. Don't be too worried.

The help at local nurseries probably will be no help at all. They don't know much about rose growing and their primary objective is to get you to buy more. Talk to other rose growers.

Be patient.

It is very difficult to start a rose bush in a hot environment this time of year. You need to water daily for two weeks, especially if you have well-drained soil. I question the overwatering advice. They may have transplant shock.

When transplanting this time of year especially roses need a good thick layer of mulch to keep the top layer of soil cool and to help the soil retain moisture.

If you have plant material at the top of the plant that is drooping you ought to prune back to get rid of the stressed parts of the plant. Likewise, pull the yellow leaves. The unhealthy leaves aren't helping your plant at all.

I don't disagree with the advice you got from the above people, but it appears to me that most did not consider your growing environment before making their comments.

My points is: Listen to the people from your local environment. I live in southern NM which is the high desert, zone 8b, which is different than other 8b zones. I have learned the hard way after spending 60 years in MI and listening people from other zone 8 environments. Example: Las Cruces, NM vs San Antonio, TX.

Take heart, I'm kind of a newbie, too, grew some long ago. I've had my share of discouragements and setbacks, but a success here and there is intoxicating.

I suggest you learn to take photos if you don't already know how, resize them so they aren't too large, and learn to post them so others here can see, and the experts usually diagnose and agree on the problem, and the others learn by reading. A couple of my problems, nobody knew for sure but gave it their best shot.

Good luck! I was going to tell you how to plant bare root; if I can do it, anybody can, but it would take too long and I don't want to risk leading you astray.

Stick your fingers down in the soil and see if it feels dry or soggy. If soggy, do not water until the soil has dried out a little. If it feels dry, and is well-drained soil to begin with, you need to water more. You must be just as hot as we are in Florida, and I have to water my roses at least every other day, unless it rains. If it is breezy, and nnot quite as humid, I have to water daily. These are not established roses, and therefore need more pampering right now.

You can plant roses any time of year in mild climates, and planting them in the summer is O.K., IF you keep them watered. Unless your soil is soggy, I would water them every day for at least two to four weeks. Give those roots a good soaking. Once they get settled in, you can stretch the watering a bit. It's harder on the rose to adjust in the heat, but it can be done. I do it all the time. A thick layer of pine bark will help keep the roots a lot happier. It holds moisture in, and they stay much cooler.

I would not feed them yet, but a good layer of quality compost on top of the soil around the bush would be good for it. If you can get your hands on some worm castings, it works miracles. I had some newly planted roses suffering a bit when we had several days of mid 90's and dry, brisk winds. They were watered every day, but still were not happy. The worm castings, as well as continued watering and extra pine bark snapped them out of it within 3 days. They're growing like weeds right now. Be sure to leave some breathing room around the center of the rose. Don't heap the pine bark up against the main canes.

I also would not spray them with any chemicals right now. It would stress them too much, and may kill the roses outright. Been there, done that, in the past. I don't spray chemicals at all anymore.

sandy

What several posters have implied but didn't state directly is that you may have to wait a month or two before you see really strong growth on your rose. Eight days in the ground is barely no time at all--they may be wimpy for another 6 weeks while they work on getting the roots established.

So in addition to all the good advice above, also cultivate the gardening virtue of patience. : )

Kate

Okay, here is an update...

The Knock Out with the yellow leaves, is still around. I pulled almost all the yellow leaves and leaves with brown tips, off. Left the inside of the bush somewhat bare, but I figured it was worth the try. I also dug holes around the plant and put in expanded shale and some organic matter. So now it looks better!! New growth and a few more blooms.

The 3 hybrid teas are also doing a bit better. Again, pulled off leaves and dug holes and added the amendments. New growth is present and my Disneyland rose, which I love has a bloom and a bud!! I also moved all the mulch from the bases of all my roses.

Today I had gotten some coffee grounds from Starbucks for my compost pile. I had extra so I added it to the base of the plant. Don't know if this was smart, but I always heard of people doing it, so I figured I would as well.

Watering is at the base of the plant only.

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions!! I am going to try planting David Austin roses next. Hopefully that will go well. Will also be planting more Earthkind roses.

Like the weather can change, so does my rose saga. Brown tipped leaves are now on all my roses! I was sure they were all diseased, so back to the nursery I go, with some leaves to show them. Now I am told it is from not enough water! Will water at the roots later on tonight, as it is too hot during the day.

Only your fingers in your dirt can tell you whether it is wet or dry. I am horrified at recommendations that you water FOUR INCHES per week, or every other day. Water when you need to, not on a set schedule. More roses are killed by poor drainage--by far-- than under-watering. I lived in north Texas on a heavy black clay locally called gumbo which once wet, would stay wet. The nursery cannot tell you how much to water, only your soil can. Dig down and check. When you do water, water deeply and thoroly with a wand at the base of the plant.

I fight black spot on my hybrid teas most every year but this year seems to be worse. I don't like to spray and am using the "Joy dish detergent" solution but it doesn't seem to be working all that well. I am thinking about just gradually replacing each with varieties that are black spot resistant. Any ideas out there on what I can do to try to combat black spot? P.S. I am a newbie on this forum. Thanks.

sandye1951--you would probably get more responses if you posted your question on a new thread rather than tagging along at the end of someone else's thread.

I use the fungicide Bayer Advanced Garden Disease Control for Flowers, Roses, and Shrubs which I spray every 2-3 weeks in the spring and fall on my less disease-resistant roses, but a number of my roses do not need spraying--or rarely need it--because they are already disease-resistant. In other words, I refuse to grow roses that are disease-magnets, so that cuts down on my need to spray. If you don't want to spray with a fungicide, your only other choice is to limit your rose selections to those that are highly resistant to disease.

Hope that helps.

Kate

Update from my original posting saga....

Once the cooler weather came in, my Plum Frost shot up and gave me many blooms!! Smelled wonderful!! My Disneyland gave me blooms on and off, which also smelled nice. Both are Hybrid Tea's.

My Knock Outs still have issues with their leaves, but are blooming. Not getting as large as quickly as some others I have seen, but that is okay.

Double Knock Outs aren't doing all that well, so I am thinking of transplanting them. Belinds Dream isn't giving me the blooms it should, nor is it getting as large as it should. Might transplant that as well.

Will be planting more roses this season, but not Hybrid Tea's. Looking forward to reading all your posts and learning as much as I can!!

Lisa, I admire your dedication to learning how to grow roses. However, I fear you may be a bit impatient. It is not uncommon for less than spectacular performance from a rose that has been in the ground less than one year. Many gardeners on this forum do not make a final judgment on a rose until it has been growing for three years. In other words, you won't know how a rose will perform at maturity until it gets some maturity. Unless you really dislike those roses, I'd give them at least another year to do their thing. You've got some popular roses that just might begin to shine during their second year in your garden.

We all get impatient at one time or another, but roses weren't designed, evidently, for instant gratification. I wish it were otherwise.

Good luck,
Kate

When I was a newbie, more experienced rose growers came over in in 1 minute could tell me what was wrong, and exactly what needed to be done. You could save a lot of time by inviting a good rose gardener over for tea and a look at your roses.

Good Luck.

Gala Friend of Roses

Second Kate's suggestion.
We figure that, unless we just hate the thing, a rose should have minimum 3, and
(own root, in our climate) perhaps 4-5 years to fully mature.
Until then, you just cannot judge its performance.

Jeri

Being discouraged is NOT a part of sincere rose growing. You have remain upbeat all the time, because the plants are going to have some problems and you need to deal with them in a positive way. If you think too much water, and in summer each plant will need 4" to itself per week, then cut back. Don't depend too much on what the nurseyman says, good nursery or not. Remember, most of those people are more used to dealing with trees then roses. Buy a couple of good books on growing roses, and join a local society, if there is one. Join the American Rose Society. Many say it's expensive, but the great articles on rose culture you will get in the magazine are well worth the cost. One of the books I recommend and read myself after all these years with roses is Roses For Dummies. There is a lot of solid information in there even if you are a so-called pro. I have been into roses for over 30 years, and know what I am talking about. Another thing, you can plant a rose bush anytime of the year as long as the ground is not frozen solid, and you follow a few simple rules. Also, the Roses Forum is here if you need us, so ask questions if you are in doubt.

Discouraged is when you plant something and it's deader than a doornail before the season is over. If it's just impatience, do like I do and keep planting more,LOL. I've only been planting roses for 3 yrs now. I've planted nearly every class, some explode in growth the first season and even pass up the ones I first planted, I think the new growth excites me more than the blooms sometimes. I can overlook and tolerate bs, because it seems to come here at the same time the roses are growing.

As for an organic way to control black spot, I read in a book I have that you can crush 4 to 5 cloves of garlic and add it to one gallon of water, then add a half teaspoon of liquid dish washing detergent (acts as a surfacant). Spray the roses with the concoction. The claim in the book is that the garlic contains sulphur compounds and that this will kill the black spot. I have not tried it so I don't know if it actually works. Below is a link for organic black spot control.

Here is a link that might be useful: Organic Black Spot Control