Balling Of Flowers
In wet summer weather the outer petals on a freshly opening flower can often become fused together. The flower is then referred to as being ‘balled’.
This is most often found on the many petalled varieties with naturally tight buds, particularly some of the Bourbons and the Hybrid Teas. If full sun follows prolonged rain the petals that are congealed together then dry out to become a crisp shell which will prevent the flower opening. If this happens the bloom will rot within its cocoon and fall away or remain on the plant. In larger gardens this has to be lived with until the roses are dead headed, when the unsightly specimens can be removed, but in less time consuming smaller gardens, or where specimen roses in prominent positions are affected, the outer petals can be carefully teased away to allow the flower to open naturally.
