I have never pruned my roses like I should... and I think I'm now seeing the fruit of my lack of labor. My roses don't seem to be putting out new growth this year.

These are bush type roses but the "bush" consists of about 2 canes per plant. There are only a few leaves on those canes. I've had a few blooms, but now, nothing... no new leaves. What few new leaves I've seen on one or 2 of them, the japanese beetles have gotten to. Now that I have the beetles under control, I was expecting growth & there is none!

Is it too late to do a heavy pruning or should I just wait until spring? I've deadheaded when the blooms have withered, but I've been afraid to do much more than that.

Jackie

Yes, we are zone 7.

If I had to guess, the majority of these are hybrid tea roses.

I did hit them a couple of times with bug killer, but not in the last month. I hated doing it, so I set up traps and those plus time seem to have helped a lot.

I don't have regular rose food (for shame!)... just the stuff with additives (which I haven't used because we have honey bees & was worried about them). The only plain fert- non-rose that I have are organics that I use on the veggies (I've tried a little of that on the roses-didn't do much-) and miracle grow.

Thanks again! Rachell

But roses aren't really overly fussy. Tomato food or any other food that is evenly balanced (such as 10-10-10) would be just fine also.

Kate

:-)

~Christopher