Question:Β I live here in Tucson at Villa Catalina condos at Sixth Street and Country Club Road. We have a small rose garden with some beautiful flowers. My problem is some of our larger flowers donβt fully open. I get a very large ball, very tight, but will not open. Then there are flowers next to them, and they open nicely. Any ideas?
Answer:Β There are a couple possible answers to this problem. If the rose buds that donβt open appear unhealthy, possibly with a browning on the edges, there are known diseases and insects that can affect them. If the buds appear to be healthy, a more likely problem is environmental stress. According to local rose expert and master gardener volunteer,Β Lauren Kettenbach, this time of year that is a common problem. Before Thanksgiving there was some pretty cold weather, and then it got warm again. So it could be weather-related, and itβs also very late in the season to have any blooms at all. I would not worry unless there is a problem with the spring bloom.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed toΒ tucsongardensage@gmail.com
