I am hoping some of you can explain to me why my roses stopped blooming at the same time that the nearby raspberries started producing in a consistent way (they were planted there 2 summers ago). Is it a coincidence or do I need to move the raspberries to a new location? This rose bush has produced very fragrant flowers all summer long for at least 10 years, until now. Thank you for any advice.
Cinzia
NY, zone 4-5

I just spent the month of July redoing a patio that was full of raspberries and roses - ouch, ouch!!! But the roses were never slowed down by the raspberries. The only time I've had roses be reluctant to bloom is when they get too much shade or not enough water.

If your raspberries are shading your roses from afternoon sun, then that might have caused it. If they are competing for water, that might have caused it. But there is nothing in a root exchange that would do that.

Do you have bark chips on the ground? That has also put my roses in neutral. When bark chips break down they will compete for nitrogen when they get under the soil, and if they are redwood or cedar they actually put off chemicals that slow growth.

Raspberries will grow in just about any soil, and your roses, in order to have repeat blooms, need some pretty nice soil, so be sure they get some extra compost and nutrients.

Roses and Raspberries, and all other bramble fruits, are in the same family, "Rosaceae", and they need about the same growing conditions. Simply because they are planted near each other would not cause one to stop producing.

You might want to check your pH, too.

Add a few drops of vinegar to a tablespoon of dry garden soil. If it fizzes, your soil's pH is greater than 7.5.


Add a pinch of baking soda to a tablespoon of moist soil. If it fizzes, you soil's pH is less than 5.0.