Question
QUESTION: Hi Lynnette,
I recently purchased a knock out Rose Tree. It has been in the ground for 1 week. Today I noticed all the roses have black wilted edges and a few leaves have turned yellow.
I water it everyday as suggested until it takes root. Am I watering it to much or maybe not enough? Also when we bought it, it had some leaves with holes in them. I haven't noticed any bugs on it and we sprayed it with insect killed for plants. Is that ok? I don't want to loose it because I just ordered another rose tree. This time it is a weeping rose tree. It hasn't arrived yet.
Thanks ............. Celia

ANSWER: My first reaction to your problem is that the rose tree wasn't in a good condition when you bought it and it might be wise to get in touch with the nursery and get their opinion on what is wrong as they may have to replace it for you. If you have ordinary garden soil then you are not watering it too much, but if your soil is clay, then I would pull back and only water every three days. Holes in leaves are caused by some sort of insect but you are spraying for insect so that should have got rid of them. They won't cause the flowers or leaves to act sick. Try to get in touch with where you got your rose tree as it doesn't sound like it is a healthy one and you are doing everything right.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for the advice about the rose tree.
Now let me ask you this. How do you feel about weed block? I broke my back pulling weeds this year. We apparently got a bad batch or top soil last summer and now I have foreign weed everywhere. I told my husband I am to old to be on my knees pulling weed every year so, I purchased the so call better and best weed block.
How far do I keep it from the root or trunk of plants and trees. I noticed some of the plants no longer look healthy. I'm not sure if they get enough water since the block seems like it doesn't absorb the water.
I just planted two trees so I water around a trench approximately 2 feet from the trunk since the rest of the mound is covered in weed block.
After covering every inch of landscaping with weed block and spending many hours and weekends doing so I recently read most experts don't like weed block and that I may be strengthening weed growth. I am so confused about what to do and what not to do.
Thanks so much Lynette for all your advice......Celia

Answer
Most experts don't have to get rid of zillions of strange weeds in their garden so they can pooh pooh a weed block. Generally speaking, weed blocks, landscape fabrics, or even black plastic is generally not a good idea mainly because they haven't really been tested in regards to what they do to the soil over a long period of time. The main reason gardeners don't like them is because they feel that they interefer with the goings on of the soil bacterias. These bacterias are very important as they break down the nutrients and make it easier for the rose roots to take them up. Rose roots have to have fertilizer or even organic fertilizer such as bone meal, which takes the bacteria about 6 months plus to break it down before the roots can assimilate it.
Weed block is made out of a spun polyester and has perforations in it that are the shape of a funnel, tapered at the base so the sun can't get down. It says it lets water and air get down to the roots of the plants. The routine is that u get rid of all weed before you put it down, seems silly as that is what you have got it for, anyways and then you overlap it at least 6 inches.  Finally you put a mulch on the top and the mulch should be at least 4 inches thick. In your situation you have to have something because of the poor quality of the soil and this seems the best alternative. It says it lasts for up to 5 years. It says it will let water through to the rose but me of little faith would probably still make a small circle around the  base of the rose trees. You can keep an eye out for any weeds that come through there. Because roses like cool, damp roots the weed block should give them those conditions.
I use a mulch 5 to 6 inches deep and this seems to do the trick but I still have to top it up every three years. From all that I have read about weed block, the fabric shouldn't effect the plants at all.