Dear Joe,
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your rose Notre Dame did not thrive despite your efforts.
It appears that fertilizing too early may have contributed to the issue. Our care instructions, which are included with every order, advise against fertilizing for the first 2-3 months to allow the plant to establish itself. Specifically, we state:
'Fertilizing: While it may be very tempting to start feeding your new rose to boost its growth, too much fertilizers, and soil amendments, organic or otherwise can burn the newly transplanted roots and do more harm than good at this point. Do not add any fertilizers, compost, manure or any substance that may contain excessive salts. Avoid using any garden soil/ potting mix that contains these ingredients. If your soil/ potting mix has an unpleasant or foul odor, it is a strong indication that it contains organic substances that have not fully decomposed. If your soil has a very dark color, it is likely that it is overloaded with nitrogen-rich compounds. It is extremely dangerous to use this on newly transplanted roses and in our experience the most common reason for why roses fail. Please wait until your rose has 2-3 months of stable growth before adding any fertilizers and organic substances.'
We also noticed that you did not reach out to us before leaving this review. Since we did not hear from you when you received the rose 2 weeks ago, we assume that it arrived green and lush. If you had contacted us earlier when the rose first showed signs of distress, there might still have been a chance to salvage it. We are always here to assist with any issues or concerns you may have, and we encourage you to contact us directly in the future.
Sincerely,
Evelyn
HIghgarden Roses