Well, I can only guess that they were termites as the containers are too heavy to be held up long enough to check the bottoms, but right where the drainage holes were positioned on the bench, there was definitely something eating the wood. I've poked around the dirt and don't see any ants. So whatever it is, is near the bottom of the pot I put it in! And since it was wet when my husband slid the pot over, I can't really see any "bodies"! Thanks for your suggestion, Jeri. I will continue to keep an eye on the container to see if I do spot any ants.

Sure! As long as the whole root ball comes out in one piece without breaking up and you don't molest it much while repotting. Just water it well and put it right back where it was so as not to shock it. Putting the whole root ball into a larger pot of fresh soil usually doesn't disturb it, unless you loosen the roots in the process. I have done it with roses and many other plant types for years with no problems. Not messing up the root ball and keeping it properly watered until the roots reach out into the new soil are the keys. If you do loosen the original soil ball, definitely put it somewhere it won't get cooked by the hot, direct sun and reflected, radiated heat. But, if it's happy where it is and the soil ball remains intact, there isn't any reason why it wouldn't be happy right back where it was originally. Kim

Get pots large enough for the root ball. With own-root plants especially, it is important to get as much as possible. It will help with transplanting later on. 5-gallon nursery pots should be fine, larger if you can get them. If you want something more decorative, use plastic terra cotta-looking pots. 12" - 14" in diameter should be large enough. Hole in bottom, do not leave on the dish, the pots need to drain. Some of the plastic pots come with the saucers atteched, pop them off and use them for something else. Water them very well the day before digging them up and then water them well after potting them. They might droop a bit after potting, this is transplant shock and happens. Just don't let them dry out or get too wet. Good luck!

Replanted in the fall, when the rose is completely dormant, into a 24 inch deep pot, would be ideal. Just trim off about an inch from the ends of the roots to stimulate new growth. A large pot means you won't have to repot again if it gets big. Keep the rose now out of the sun and put it where it only gets filtered morning sun. Never put this very old rose or a sick rose, in full sun. Older rose's roots ( as well as modern ones) shut down when it goes under stress such as high heat. This is how they save themselves. But the leaves don't shut down they continue to do their job. I know gardeners are fearful of wetting rose leaves because they believe it causes black spot but that has been disproven. It is the rose's hybridization that makes it get infected with one of the many kinds of black spot ,easier than other roses do. Wash the leaves off in the morning and they will dry off quickly and the rose will get water. All you can do is make sure the roots stay damp , not wet, as they are probably not functioning right now. No chemical fertilizes because this type is too harsh for an old rose. It is the rose fertilizer that you are using which is causing the tall, limp canes, it has too much nitrogen in it. Fish fertilizer is like chicken soup to an old or sick rose, or any type of organic will be softer on the plant. This is a VERY old rose and must be respected as a frail rose. All treatment must be gentle. Even being moved from where it was before you got it, is an ordeal for it because of the age.