On 2013-12-28 12:57:11 +0000, Frank Booth said:

Having planted out bare-rooted roses a few weeks ago, with all the mild
weather and rain since, most of the buds left after pruning the roses hard
are now breakting or are about to. The leading stems are only 3 - 4 inches
in length with all the buds along their lemgths now breaking. I don't think
I've seen a winter in the UK before where roses refuse to become dormant

I'm concerned that when the hard frost eventually arrives these new laterals
will be killed off and subssequent die-back might extend back to the graft
union, killing these roses...Or am I worrying unnecessarily?

Even if they get frosted, they may well have another go at setting buds
later, depending on which variety they are and where you're located.
It has been an extraordinary autumn, just as it was an extraordinarily
cold spring. It's taken a longer time than usual for things to lose
their leaves and be ready to be lifted and sold as bare root and now
with 'warm' soil and warmer weather in some places, they're starting to
think it's spring. You might not get a good show next year if the roses
don't get a good spell of cold-weather dormancy but the plants
themselves are unlikely to suffer long-term.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon