Question
Hello.  I recently purchased an Intrigue Floribunda rose bush and planted it near my front fence that gets full sun.  I live near Boston, MA.  I fertilized it and have been watering it daily but have noticed that the base of the bush is getting yellow leaves and the buds are drooping and not blooming fully.  The ones that have started blooming appear brownish.  It was very hot last week so I'm wondering if that is why.  Is there anything I can do to help the plant and get it to bloom?  Thank you!

Answer
I love Intrigue but it is a difficult rose to grow even in the best gardens. What you are describing is a rose under stress and the hot spell can do it to a newly planted rosebush. there really is nothing you can do and it will perk up when the weather evens out.  Even roses that have been in the ground for a few years will go under stress and re-act as you describe when the weather turns very hot. Keep watering every two days and if it gets worse then place thin material, wet newspaper, anything to shade it from the sun, and then take it off at night.