Question
I planted 2 rose of sharon bushes 5 years ago.  Both the same size and both were covered with buds.  The lilac double blooms beautifully but the light pink double buds like crazy but they won't open.  I tried the Jerry Baker trick of epsom salts, warm water and apple juice to no avail.  Got any suggestions.  They both grow at the same rate, get the same sun exposure and are watered equally.  I would hate to take out a plant that has potential to be gorgeous.  HELP!

Answer
Hi Bernadette,
Thanx for your question.  There are a number of possibilities as to why your ROS won't bloom.  It could be too much water or not enough water or if you are fertilizing your lawn, lawn chemicals could be leaching into the soil near the ROS.  Too much nitrogen will cause blooming to slow or stop.  If you have another ROS nearby and it is not affected then it could be a fungus called Botrytis cinerea.  This will rot the buds from inside out.  Pick all of the buds off the shrub, even the healthy ones and then spray the tree with a foliar fungicide.  You should be able to find a fungicide at any big box DIY or nursery.  It is possible that the fungus has not yet spread to the other shrub.  Make sure you burn the buds or dispose of them in the rubbish.  Do not put them on a compost pile or anywhere where they can infect anything else.  I hope this helps.
Tom