Question
Hi.  My rose bush has 3 rosebuds left on it and the buds seem to be healthy/alive despite the fact that we've had several nights at or below freezing.  The leaves on the bush are still pretty green/healthy, too.  The rosebush bloomed all through the fall (in the spring and summer, too).  Do you think these buds will bloom?  What gives?  Is this normal rose bush behavior?  :)  Thanks for any insight.  It's perplexing-- and strange as it may seem, I feel sort-of bad for these late blooms.  Lisa S., Carbondale, IL

Answer
Because roses are like humans and have different likes and dislikes in regards to weather, some roses are very hardy even though they are a hybrid tea. Others can get dieback or even die, when the temperatures drop below freezing. If you have a warmer few weeks the buds could bloom but they will be pathetic in comparison to the summer ones. I am going out on a limb here ,but if your roses are still trying to bloom you may have fertilized them too late in the summer. All roses in your area should not have any more nutrients after the end of August. This will give them time to prepare for the winter and you won't get dieback, plus you will have a healthier rose next summer.