Question
Hi, I live in Western Kentucky. I have a new Queen Elizabeth Rose Bush that I planted this spring. It has bloomed several times since then. It is now fall and it has some buds on it. I read that it was not good to let them bloom too late into the season because it can affect next year's blooms. What do I need to do to get it ready for the winter? It's still a very young plant. I want it to be healthy next spring.

Answer
There are many rose myths that have been proven to be incorrect and stopping a rose from blooming because it will effect next years flowers, is one of them. The rose will stop blooming when the weather starts to get colder. If you cut off the new buds all that you are doing is telling the rose to make another one. The reason that gardeners dead head roses is so the rose will think it has to produce another flower, which will make a seed hip, which is the main reason a rose flowers. Don't cut the buds off as you will only activate the rose into more growth. Just let it slowly pull down the sap in the canes and then it will shut down naturally. Pile about 8 inches of soil, compost or bark mulch on the rose just to make sure the roots will be protected from a nasty cold snap in the winter.
Queen Elizabeth is a very vigorous rose and will do well for you. There is only a one thing to watch out for. The Queen tends to flower mainly at the top of the canes so you end up with a bush that has all the blooms on the top. When you prune your rose next spring, cut some of the outer canes shorter than the middle ones. That way the bush will be filled with blooms and look more attractive. However if it is a young bush and only has a few canes, simply leave the cane in the center taller than the others.