Help for a sad little rose bush.

16 years ago

I really feel like I'm risking wearing out my welcome here in the rose forum, but everyone has been so kind and helpful.

This past fall, my mom gave me an ill rose bush that she's had for a long time.

I buried it deep in good soil, babied it for the rest of the season, and covered it good for the winter. It seemed to respond nicely to my care.

All I know about this rosebush is that it's a climber, although it never climed very high. When spring comes, how do you suggest I begin to take care of this little guy? Do climbers need to be pruned differently than other roses? I want to give it a good fighting chance this year.

Thank you all, I've said it before but I love this forum.

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Comments (8)

karl_bapst_rosenut
16 years ago
Where in zone 5, city and state?
krystenleigh
Original Author
16 years ago
Marshall, Michigan.
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You made a mistake by cutting them back last fall. In your zone you should not prune your roses in the fall. Wait until spring. The roses store nutrients in the canes and you cut that supply off when you pruned them. That being said, last year was a particularly bad winter and you probably would have lost most of the cane anyway. Nothing you can do about that. We all started out with shorter than normal roses this spring. They'll need time to recuperate and rebuild their structures. Knowing what roses you have will also help us to determine how large and bushy you can expect them to get. Roses can take from 3 to 5 years to fully mature so be patient. As for the puckered leaves we really would need to see a photo of them to be able to diagnose what's going on. Why are you using the Bioneem oil? Do you have a bug infestation? If not then you don't need it. If you do not have a specific insect that you have correctly identified and are using the correct product for that bug, you could be killing off beneficial insects instead. That could set you up for an even worse problem later on. Only use insecticide when you have a bug, know exactly what bug it is and determine the correct insecticide to use for that bug. Not all insecticides work on all bugs. For now I would keep them well watered and fertilize them following the instructions on the fertilizer carefully and be patient.
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We moved a Felicia last month that was 5' AFTER we cut her back. (thanks, Olga.) We took as many roots as we could, but there was really no root ball, only large roots. The morning afterward, she was wilting pretty dramatically. I remembered the defoliating advice, and I stood there and carefully picked off all of her leaves. I watered her every day, along with the rest of the pot garden, after two weeks, her little buds started to show signs of life. Today, the shoots are growing well, and two of them have buds. Your roses should be fine, they're just pouting and pitiful right now. Connie
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Pink Lemonade is a rare rose. You are lucky to have it. Under the right conditions, it is healthy and beautiful, and according to HelpMeFind Roses is strongly fragrant, altho reports vary. Is yours fragrant? A garden web member paid $50. for Pink Lemonade at auction last year, as she describes here: scroll down to the post by mgleason56 http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/roses/msg0723143312356.html and a bloom of it took a prize in a photo contest: http://www.deepsouthdistrict.org/2006%20Digital%20contest/class_winners_with_pictures%202006.htm So, it's especially good karma to save it! It's quite rare. (I wrote this next part before you posted that you moved it, but will leave it in anyway for whoever needs help with a sad little rose.) Move the other plants a little farther away from it. Make a built-up ring with bricks or stones and clay soil or whatever so that there is a basin so that it's easy to water deeply and often. If you dig your finger into the soil and don't feel moisture it's time to water. Maybe as often as once or twice a week in your climate. Sandy soil and sunshine and hot weather all increase the need for frequency of watering. Roses really love a mulch of a couple inches of alfalfa, every month or so, and and a top-dressing of a little organic compost 2 or 3 times a year. The compost adjusts the pH, and homemade is best. Worm compost is the best of the best. But if you just mulch your rose, worms will probably come, just don't let mulch sit against the stem. I want to ask you, dear Pelican Head: Does yours smell like lemonade?, And how fragrant is it, strong or mild? I hope she makes it too! -Gala, friend of Roses
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I have a raised bed, I call the rose hospital. It is for all those roses I find that are trying to make it but or having a hard time. I also use it in the fall for some rooting some cuttings or branches that have been accidentally pruned. I think I would put this little guy in the rose hospital for a couple of months and maybe you will have another Peace, which is always a joy. I had a "Peace Rose" once that had one flower that was half pink and exactly 1/2 of the bloom was yellow. So you just never know. Hope it is just Peach that just need some special care.
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dublinbay z6 (KS)
16 years ago
Other than spring pruning out any obviously dead or damaged canes, I wouldn't do anything else to a climber except feed and water it--maybe spray it, if needed. Most climbers need to be several years old before they need any other kind of pruning.

Good luck with the little fella.

Kate
AnneCecilia z5 MI
16 years ago
Since you don't know exactly what climber you have there, it is hard to say how it will respond to your loving care - it may be a variety that is not cane hardy in zone 5 and so is struggling to be its best. OTOH, it may just need some TLC and you can help it succeed. Kate is right. Just prune out any dead or winter damaged canes - but not too early in spring. Wait until the forsythia blooms in your area; that's usually a good marker for when to get going on your rose pruning. Keep it watered and give it some fertilizer and or compost and see how it does this year. Good luck!
BTW, if you're in Marshall, you really ought to plan an outing one day this June and head east on 94 to Belleville to see the Great Lakes Roses display gardens when they're in full bloom. GLR nursery is closing at the end of this season (the Lindsey's are retiring,) but they are still offering wonderful large potted roses for sale this year. Even if you don't go there to purchase, you can see some very mature and beautiful hardy shrubs and climbers all in one spot and they can answer questions on roses with great expertise. I heartily recommend that you make the effort to get there sometime before they close this coming fall! :-)

Anne
onewheeler
16 years ago
Good luck with the rose.

Please do not remove the protection you have around it too soon. Wait for nature, the forsythia is a good thing to watch for, then gradually remove the protection, a bit at a time. Don't fertilize till it warms up a bit more. There is some science that says the nutrients will not be absorbed till the earth reaches the right temperatures so don't waste valuable stuff till it warms up a bit. Sorry I can't give you those temps but you will know I am sure when it is warm enough in your area.

I have left roses that I thought were dead only to find new sprouts coming up in July so if you really want to keep this rose be patient, you just never know.

good luck

Valerie
seil zone 6b MI
16 years ago
Climbers take about 3 years to get established and take off and in zone 5 most won't be cane hardy. That means they'll be starting over from the mulch line every season. You'll know better in the spring what has survived and like Valerie said, don't give up too soon. I've had roses that I was sure were dead come back like that too. They're tougher than you think.

There's an old saying about climbers:
First year sleep,
Second year creep,
Third year leap!

I look forward to seeing pictures of your climber blooming!
krystenleigh
Original Author
16 years ago
This climber is about 10 years old. Is it possible that he's just dying of old age?
dublinbay z6 (KS)
16 years ago
Possibly, but possibly not. Since you just transplanted it this past season, it hasn't had time to fully mature in its new spot. It needs to grow roots for a couple more years. At this point (in the spring, actually), feed and water--and you may find you have a nearly totally new plant all rejuvenated.

Kate

Help for a sad little rose bush.

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karl_bapst_rosenut

krystenleigh
Original Author

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Help for a sad little rose bush.

Comments (8)

karl_bapst_rosenut

krystenleighOriginal Author

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Original Author

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