carpet roses

[WDWMom]

We have several carpet roses in our front yard. We have had them for 5 years and they refuse to bloom. They all get buds, but they never open. What am I doing wrong????? I see them in lots of yards in our area so I know that isn't they problem. They are planted in good soil with bark (mulch) surrounding them. They get watered frequently from the sprinklers (underground, city water).

Any professional gardeners out there that can help me?

 

[diznygirl]

Could be an insect. If your roses are infected, it prevents the bud from opening. I'm not an expert - I don't remember the name of this.

 

[WDWMom]

No insects that I have ever noticed. The plants all look healthy.

If it is an insect problem (which it should be since carpet roses are not supposed to have problems) what do I do to get rid of them?

 

[diznygirl]

I did a quick google and found a name - "thrips" - here's some more info - hope you can find an answer!


Thrips: These are microscopic insects that will actually eat the rose bud from the inside out. If you notice your buds turning brown and never opening, chances are you have thrips. Spray with a insecticide rated for roses, making sure you spray the buds thoroughly.
Spider Mites: Another very small (almost microscopic) insect that can wreak havoc on roses. Your leaves will turn yellow before drying up and falling off. You may also see tiny webs forming on the branches. Spray with a miticide, making sure you get coverage on top as well as under the leaves.
Aphids: Not as common as thrips or spider mites, but can be a problem. Aphids actually suck the chlorophyll out of the plant making it weak. For a mild case of aphids a good hosing off will work, for a more severe case, a good rose insecticide can usually solve this problem.

 

[WDWMom]

Thanks. I will check out the thrips insect thing. It's weird that they would get them every year. Especially carpet roses which are supposed to be resistant to insects.