Nip this potential problem in the bud
Double Delight rose, via Google Images
I'm replanting my rose beds this spring because my then-gardener whacked the heck out of them pruned them back too far, and they've been sickly ever since.
I've enjoyed reconfiguring the overall arrangement–reimagining color combinations, incorporating old friends with new acquaintances, etc. (Moondance, Angel Face, Double Delight, and Lasting Love…so evocative, don't you think?) But I've also discovered a very sad side effect of the current recession is that rose bushes are in short supply this year.
Some growers went bankrupt; some distributors cut back on supplies. The net effect for home gardeners is this: Many varieties are harder to find this year–standard favorites and exotics, alike. So if you're planning to order roses online this spring, do it now. Or if you prefer buying plants from your local nursery, put yourself on their waiting lists. You're more likely to get the ones you really want, once they're available in your growing zone.
Tell 'em a little birdie sent you. 🙂
I've managed to buy most of the roses I wanted from my local nursery, and I've placed an online order for another two or three varieties that they don't carry. Crossed fingers that they don't get cancelled for any reason…it's planting season here, and I can't wait to see them in full bloom!