Question
Hi..thanks for your help.  I have a red climbing rose that usually blooms a lot.. big pretty velvety red roses... This year ..it is climing like crazy..but has only had two blooms and they were small... Some of the leaves are curled under it seems... Can you help?  No yellow leaves... one in the back yard has the yellow spots..

Answer
Hi Connie-

A few things can stimulate bloom.  One is a good fertilizer with a high potassium percentage.  I would try a time-release fertilizer for roses.  One thing I do to make my roses bloom - I take old bananas - peel and all - and stick them around the base of the rose (or behind it if you don't want the neighbors to see).  Bananas are high in potassium, and after they break down in the soil they will stimulate bloom.

Some roses bloom better after they are pruned back a bit - you could try giving the rose a light pruning and see if this helps.

Sometimes roses don't bloom as well in years when the rainfall is less than the preceding years.  Make sure the rose gets enough water - sometimes that is all that is needed.

Good luck-

Carlene