How to revive roses after planting in raised garden bed?

[Behnaz]

Hello,

We recently bought three Falstaff English Shrub roses to plant in our raised garden bed. Shortly after they arrived, I noticed the leaves curling and found some insects, most likely aphids.

On Friday afternoon, I sprayed the roses with Yates Ready-to-Use Pest Oil. Then, on Saturday morning, I followed up with Yates Ready-to-Use Pyrethrum Insecticide.

Later that same day, we planted the roses in the raised garden bed and used Scotts Osmocote Rose, Gardenia, and Azalea Premium Potting Mix around the roots.

Unfortunately, the day after planting, I noticed the leaves were shedding, turning brown, and developing spots.

Since then, I’ve been watering them almost daily, but they don’t seem to be improving.

I’ve attached some photos for reference. Could you please advise how I can revive my roses? I’ve also purchased Yates 500ml Rose Shield Black Spot and Insect Pest Killer Concentrate to use, but since the daily temperature has been above 30 degrees, I’ve held off applying it until the weather cools down.

Thank you for your guidance in advance.

[MitchellMc · Accepted solution]

Hi @Behnaz,

It seems that the roses are under significant stress, likely due to a combination of factors, including the insect infestation and possibly the planting process. Roses should ideally be healthy when planted, and it’s quite difficult to reverse problems like this if the plants were not in good condition to begin with. If these roses were purchased from Bunnings, I would strongly recommend taking advantage of our Perfect Plant Promise. If you have proof of purchase, you could return the plants for a replacement or a refund, as they should not be struggling like this so soon after purchase.

When dealing with newly planted roses, it’s essential that they are in healthy condition from the start. Given that these plants are already stressed from insects and the shock of transplanting, the lack of healthy foliage makes it harder for them to recover. It's also important not to overwater, as this can further stress the plants, especially in combination with the high temperatures.

In the meantime, consider reducing the frequency of watering to ensure the soil isn't too saturated. Additionally, avoid applying further treatments while the temperatures are above 30°C, as this can cause further damage. Once the weather cools down, you can apply the Yates Rose Shield or a similar treatment to manage the aphids and black spot, but it’s essential to allow the plants to recover and not overexpose them to treatments while they’re already stressed.

If you're looking to revitalize your roses, I'd also recommend ensuring they're planted in well-drained soil with good airflow around the roots and leaves. You might also consider giving them some time to adjust before applying any further treatments to avoid overwhelming them with chemicals. 

Let me tag @Noelle and @mich1972 for their thoughts.

Mitchell

[Noelle]

Hi @Behnaz 

I completely agree with Mitchell's remarks concerning your roses and the treatment of them. Some of the images also suggest there may be some black spot disease present but again I'd hold off doing anything about any of the pest or disease issues until the plants have overcome their transplant shock.

Any leaves that fall should be collected and placed in the rubbish bin, to prevent any spread of diseases.

I can see that you have been watering immediately around the roses but the rest of the bed looks dry. When you water, make sure you moisten more than the very small circle immediately around each plant, to encourage the roots to grow out into the bed. If you don't then root development may be compromised.

If, as Mitchel has said, the plants were not in good condition when purchased and you have your receipt still, then investigate Bunnings' Perfect Plant Promise.

[mich1972]

Good morning @Behnaz I agree with Mitch and Noelle. They have given you awesome advice 😀

[Behnaz]

Thanks, I didn't buy the roses from Bunnings. To be fair, they were healthy when we got them. Whatever happened to them must have occurred while they were still in pots in our backyard.