It sounds like the plant was potted and in bloom which could be very bad. Assuming it is a cheap grafted rose, it could be that the roots were chopped off, the potting medium was something bad like sawdust and sand and that the plant was forced to bloom to make you want to buy it. Was it bought at a place like Lowes? If so you have a problem because you have to give it lots of TLC just to get it to survive. On the other hand, you could have bought it at a good nursery in which case things look a lot better. Regardless, you are going to have to wait until the rose gets established to truly bloom for you. In general, beware of cheap, forced potted roses in small pots. The bloom you see will be the only on the rose ever has.

I do not grow double delight (yet) in 6b, but my mother does in northern Kansas (6a) and has been very successful. She now has a nearly 5' by 5' rose bush after 6 years of taking care of it. This is one of the roses that she has to spray regularly due to its suseptability to black spot and fungal diseases. Your plant may be stressed from the transplant shock and so it would be even more suseptable to pests and diseases because it is weak. There are chemical or natural sprays that can keep these diseases under control (don't be fooled though, no spray can cure black spot). When do you use the sprays? If you use them in the morning, they can burn leaves and buds. The sun shines down on them and it can "cook" the leaves- it's like the spray is a sauce and the leaves are being sauteed in the sun. If I do any spraying, I do it in the evening, right before the sun sets. Also, you can switch to natural sprays, or Bayer makes great fungicide/insecticide that you place at the bottom of the plant and you don't have to do any spraying. Try the liquid Bayer 3-in-1 product- it is a little more expensive, but well worth it ($15 for a med. jug).

I have been watering my new roses that I planted this year every other day so they can develope a strong root system and have less stress. Make sure you keep the soil moist until the rose is well established. Remember, water is like fertilizer for roses!

Another thing that can add to the stress would be if you planted the roses too early and they have gone through some tough wintry weather. It is harder for a new plant to handle that weather when it hasn't been established- especially since some roses have been grown in a greenhouse under different conditions than you have in your yard. Next year, try not to plant until after the most of the winter weather has gone by, or protect the plant from winter weather by covering it when a bad freeze/storm goes by. It has made a big difference in my garden.

I love my mom's DD rose and I can't wait to get one for my garden. It's a lot of work for you right now, but I think you will forget all of that once the first flush of roses come along, they are some of the most fragrant and beautiful I've seen, and is definately one of my all time favorites. I am sure there are some other gardeners who can give you some great advice, keep checking back for new posts :) I haven't uploaded photos yet, so I can't help you there, but Good luck with everything!

Natalie

It appears the issues aren't Double Delight and zone 6, but something about the soil and roots. An underpotted rose may need daily watering. Roots in garden soil can be disturbed by moles and voles. Etc.

You don't say how long you've had the rose and whether it is in a pot or in the ground. Assuming it is a fairly new plant, get it in the ground and give it a long, deep watering. Try giving it some shade while it tries to settle in and grow some new roots. A lawn chair tipped over it might work, or put several sticks around it and drape a cloth on the side the sun comes from (check it several times during the day--the sun comes in at different angles as the day progresses). Your new baby can't take full sun yet. Keep an eye on it and water as needed. Hopefully in 3-4 weeks, it will begin to look like a new plant!

Poor rose is stressed right now, so don't use any sprays on it for at least a month or 6 weeks. They are too stressful on an already stressed plant. If the bugs are aphids, just hose them off or gently wipe your fingers along the bud--that'll kill them. In fact, if the only bugs you have are aphids, you don't ever need to spray them with an insecticide. In about a week or so, the good bugs (like lady bugs) will show up and gobble up those aphids--if you don't spray, that is. Otherwise, you are taking a chance that your spray is killing the good bugs like lady bugs, and they won't be able to work for you.

I doubt very much that you need a miticide this time of the year. In fact, I'd advise that you never use a miticide.

You didn't mention if you applied fertilizer to the rose. I hope not. New plants need to concentrate on growing roots. Fertilizer will further stress the rose by trying to get it to grow leaves and flowers before it has sufficient roots to support the other growth. If you already fed the rose, there isn't much you can do about it now, but generally wait until the new rose is putting out lots of new growth on its own before you feed the rose.

The only other thing is patience. Some roses are like problem children. You have to spend more time getting them going, but you love them anyway. Your Double Delight will outgrow its problems--with time--and you'll adore this truly gorgeous rose.

Kate

Thanks everyone with the advice on my Double Delight. With a little work I think she'll come out of this and do just fine. I will keep you updated on her progress.