Marianne's Response
Helpful advise for small or spindly rose leaves
For the last 2 years, when I prune my roses they grow back with small and spindly leaves. What do I need to do?
Pat
Posted by Pat Gardner on May 20, 2014
Marianne's Response
Do your roses still flower? Are the blooms the same color as they originally were? It sounds like your rose plant may have a sucker or wild sprout and this means the rose has reverted back to the original wild rose. The flowers if they appear will be small and a muddy red color. If the rose has reverted back you should just dig it up and start with a new rose plant. The other possibility is that your rose need fertilizing. Roses are heavy feeders and need plant food every year. I use Osmocote in the soil at the beginning of the season and I also add a compost mulch and water the roses with Miracle Grow once or twice a summer right after they finish blooming. This keeps them well fed with continuous blooms.
Keep growing,
Marianne Binetti
