Some roses not budding after deadheading? Why?

6 years ago

I live in a year-round rose growing region, a Zone 9b where, to the best I can tell, we have roses year-round.

I have nine bushes in my yard, four of which are hybrid tea roses over six feet tall, and another five which I don't know what are -- all came with my house when I bought it a few years ago. I know one is "taboo" and another is "Dallas" from tags I dug up in the ground. So older varieties. I must say taboo has the most amazingly long-lasting flowers -- some will bloom for over two weeks with massive red blossoms. Great rose! Unsure what all the others are.

So I only began pruning them this year. Previously a landscaping company came and did it. And I must say it really improved things! I have been diligently deadheading each rose when it dies, every few days, and now three of the tall, hybrid tea roses have 18-20 new blooms all over them, with beautifully fresh leaves! And this is the third round for some of them in the past five months.

However, one hybrid tea isn't growing anything when I deadhead/prune it (unsure if there's a big difference -- I cut the flower off so that the new growth will be nice and not point out at some weird angle or be gangly. And NONE of the littler roses are responding to pruning at all?

Can anyone tell me why or if I should be doing something else?

Also, some of the canes have no leaves on them due to neglect, and those seem to never grow buds. What do I do with those?

Featured Answer

seil zone 6b MI

6 years ago

Sara, can you post pictures of the roses so we can actually see what you have? It would be helpful.

There are some roses that do only bloom once a season. That may be one reason. Usually roses will stop blooming if they aren't getting enough sun too. Or they could just take longer to rebloom. They each have their own rebloom cycle time. Some will rebloom in as little as 4 weeks others may take 8 or even 10 weeks to rebloom. Also, in your hot zone some roses will go semi dormant during the hottest months but will start to grow again in the fall when it cools off.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Sara B.
Original Author
6 years ago
Ah, thanks seil! It's dark out, so I can't take a photo right now, but I did not realize they all had different cycles. Mine have been re-growing the starts of buds in a day or two after pruning, and then growing a new rose within about 4 weeks, so I guess that's fast. I thought it was from deadheading them well, above the bud eye, which I never had done before.

And maybe it is the heat. It's been a little hot for a few days after what seems like an unseasonably cool summer, and with less morning fog and clouds then usual. I will give them more time, and also, try to take a picture tomorrow because it is just striking how differently they are re-blooming. But I guess all plants are a bit like that.

And actually, if I think about it, the three which are really re-blooming get heavy afternoon sun, but the other one is in more shade, and the five which are small and not hybrid tea roses (maybe someone knows what they are) are really in almost no sun at this time of year because I have big maples which go bare in the winter but cover up so much light in the summer.

I am also a bit concerned about a big crack in one of the root balls for one of them, which I only saw today for the first time, so I will try to share that as well. Much thanks for your speedy response, and I will post again when it is light outside!
Related Professionals
Charlotte Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Somerset Architects & Building Designers · Waco Architects & Building Designers · Petersburg Architects & Building Designers · Kearney Architects & Building Designers · Southaven Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tyler Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Washington Landscape Contractors · Vidalia Landscape Contractors · Brainerd Landscape Contractors · Fresno Landscape Contractors · Louisville Home Builders · Kirksville Home Builders · Fresno Home Builders · Victoria Home Builders
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
6 years ago
Seil is correct, roses all rebloom on different schedules. I have some roses that rebloom very quickly and somr that seem to take forever.

Your not hybrid tea roses may be floribundas.

Roses dont thrive in full shade. They need 5 to 6 hours of sun and morning sun is the best although I have plenty of roses that get blasted by triple digets all afternoon.
Moses, Pitt PA, cold W & hot-humid S, z6
6 years ago
High summer heat stalls new shoot emergence after dead heading, more than for any other cause, here in zone 6b. Water and fertilize until I am worn out is to no avail. The roses just sulk until cooler weather returns. This year has been particularly hot.

Moses
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
6 years ago
Here, not getting enough water might be my rose's biggest complaint. In this heat I have not deadheaded everything either. I have water, but the trick is to get working emitters to each plant when I have so many roses.
rifis (zone 6b-7a NJ)
6 years ago
Is the premise ( that deadheading speeds up or enhances budding) on which the OP’s question is based even true?

If it is: based on what evidence? Even less: why should it even be biologically plausible?

A few words from Dr. Manners would be quite nice right now. Something along the lines of his explanation as to why notching works.

Links to original research addressing this would also be appreciated.
Sara B.
Original Author
6 years ago
Moses, thanks! We are having an awful heat wave here now.
kittymoonbeam
5 years ago
Some roses rest in the heat. Keep their feet cool and moist and see what happens from now to next summer. You might try some fish fertilizer too.