Photos will help respondents.

Also ask Heirloom for advice (if not already done).

What do you believe to be the current state of soil N?

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Potting them in a good potting mix will save the day. Put the pots in shade for a period until you see new growth. I would hold of on fertilizer for now.

Thank you! We are thinking of taking them from the ground and putting them in pots. We really want to save both the Earth Angel and the Don Juan.

Florida can be really a challenge and there are those nematodes in the soil some places.

I grew roses in central Florida (Winter Haven) for a very long time. I learned a lot during those years. First off, own root plants from Heirloom MUST be grown in large pots to grow well. Second, roses grafted onto Fortuniana rootstock will grow big and beautiful, planted into the ground, within 2 years. Nelsons Florida Roses sells some of the best roses you can get for Florida rose growing. There are several Nursery's in central FL. that sell Nelsons Roses. It would be to your advantage to find one of these Nursery's and buy your roses from a local seller.

Thank you. Yes, I only amended the ground inside the edging blocks. Outside it is sandy, rocky with some crush concrete and deep down underneath the roses it is probably the same but without the crush concrete.

Hi Ken, Yes, I now know that. I had just moved from the New York City to Florida and didnt know anything about roses so I went online. But I now I understand that I needed to by Fortuniana rootstock which I recently did and planted two (Double Delights) in pots. They are doing very well. This is what prompted me to take another look at my Heirlooms and realized that they were not doing well and I needed help as soon as possible.

As your roses spread their roots out they hit the desert 'soil', and consequently begin to struggle. Get the biggest pots you can. Pot them up in a durable potting mix.,, Then they should show the growth you want.

Moses

Also, your soil may be perfect for small fig trees. Try Violette de Bordeaux.

Sorry to hijack here -- Moses -- what do figs like? I have a Violette de Bordeaux that is not doing much...

RDrgzl

Your roses may not like the soil below the holes they are in or be stunted growing in that size of hole. Roses roots can grow 3 ft+. If the roses grow roots beliw tye good soil you put in the holes they may not like the old soil they start encountering. Poor soil can inhibit the abolity forca rose to absorb fertilizer nutrients. When a plant is inhibited from aborbing nitrogen the keaves turn yellow. Also, lack ircwater or poor drainage resulting in too much water turns leaves yellow.

I recommend potting them in nutient rich potting soil and pour on some weekly liquid fish fertilizer until they are thriving again, then you can fertilize once a month.

Then dig down 2+ feet in those holes to see what soil is below & if roses can grow in them-is tgeircrich soil & well draining soil deep down. Are the holes wide enough?