Question
Last year, which was the first, the color of my roses was good and strong. This year, they look so faded. My yellow rose, for example is almost a beige color. I have given them Rose Fertilizer, but that has not helped. The leaves are healthy looking; there are plenty of roses coming on, but they look washed out. Can you help me with this problem? Thanks, Jeanine

Answer
As I don't know where you garden, I can only tell you what effects the colour of a rose. When you bought the rose it could have been grown in a different part of the States than you are in and so have different soil on the roots. By the time it got used to your soil, the soil has changed the colour. Acid soil tends to darken reds and pinks. Also the weather effects a rose colour, heat tends to fade them out cool weather will darken some colours. Fertilizer will have some effect on rose colours.Sometimes when the spring is long and damp with not much sun, the roses grow not as strong as when there is full sunshine. These flowers tends to be a washed out colour in comparison to the normal spring. Hope this helps.