Roses are very susceptible to fungal diseases. Whilst you can cope with a bit of  mildew a bud that fails to open is somehow more annoying. These buds had been hit by a lot of rain and a long period of humidity and nothing was going to help them.

• Try to water roses in the early morning so that any excess water on the leaves and blooms will evaporate quickly.

• Water the roots not the buds and leaves, it takes less water to do more good that way.

• Your roses will be happiest if you remember to mulch! mulch, mulch, mulch!

• Buds and flowers infected with botrytis will appear grayish-brown and shriveled. Prune and destroy diseased  parts and keep the soil under the roses clean.

Bud blast on rhododendrons is a disease that  produces black, bristle-like fruiting bodies   on the surface of the bud. In spring they are dry, brown and covered with characteristic ‘bristles’ which prevent the flower from opening.