Rose of Sharon Issues

Scratch the bark with your fingernail. If you see a little green just under the bark, it's alive! My ROS has just started blooming one week ago, 8 feet tall, and growing like a weed. In zone 7, east TN.

I've never seen that happen but I have seen old and very old ROS just die one year for no apparent reason. Mine (in Zone 5 Chicago) don't bloom or bud until mid July but they're in full leaf mode now and growing out. I maintain a hedge and help seedlings along so if mom suddenly dies one year, there are many redundant ROS to take her place.

I live not far from you. The past winter was the worst for plants for

Follow the advice of another poster - scratch the bark with a knife. If you see green it is alive, if brown it is dead. Remove all dead and see what happens with the rest. In the fall, after dormancy starts, cut it to the ground.

John

We scratched, it is alive - Is there any special fertilizer or anything I should be doing for it?

ROS likes lots of water and sun. Weed the area and apply mulch to help retain moisture. Miracle Grow applications help, but only apply it when you know the plant is healthy.

Save some money. Buy a bag of balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 is common) and use that. 50 lb. bag is $10 here. Use the savings to treat yourself to your favorite cold beverage.

John

I live just west of Boston. I, too, thought my RoS might be defunct, but it has just started leafing out.

-- Jean B.