Question
Three years ago, I noticed, after a spring application of lawn disease spray, that my roses did not form buds, just brown, dried sprigs where a bud should have been and some curled leaves.  This condition affected 12 hybrid tea roses, but not my climbing rose two feet away! The lawn over-spray contained the ingredient 2-4D. I was told to cut them back, hoping each year for my roses to produce blooms, but so far, not my lush rose blooms I so loved. The rose bushes continue to leaf out each year, but no bud formation. I have informed the lawn spray men to discontinue using the spray that contains 2-4D. Are my bushes (Jackson Perkins plants)doomed or should I give them one more year.  We live in Denver, Colorado. Thanks in advance for any info you can pass on to me.   Gay

Answer
Oh dear, lawn spraying, whether it is on your lawn or the next door neighbours, is a serious problem. So many people have told me about their neighbours spraying their lawn and then it is their roses which get damaged. Because these sprays are fine, they easily drift with the slightest movement of wind. If a rose bush is only sprayed once with a poison, then I would suggest cutting it right back to 12 inches in the spring. Usually that advive works. But I get the impression that although you did what was correct, they got sprayed again. If that is the case, the lawn chemical could be re-acting with the bud formation hormone. As a last resort take a deep breathe and cut them right back hard and if they still don't bud up then I would replace them. Please bear in mind tha t2-4D does not break down but stays dormant in the soil. Might be a wisdom to incorporate a little fresh soil from another part of the garden into the holes before planting anything new. Hope this helps.