Is this rose "bush" worth keeping?

Question

I have this rose bush that's not quite a bush. It's more like a single thorny stalk with one pink rose. Is this the remnant of what once was a bush? I don't know if there's much hope for this thing to be more than just a sucker-like growth. I don't want to destroy it, but I'd like to relocate it to another part of my property and replace it with a new fuller bush from the nursery. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Hello

KEEP IT. If you really wish to move it wait until the fall. Never destroy a plant if it still has some possibility of life in it, and in this case especially if it has a flower. Roses like full sun area's and if it is not getting at least 4 hours of direct light or 6+ hours of indirect that is why it looks sad. I would leave it there for now even though it is an eye sore. This fall cut it back as you normally would and mulch it in by covering the remaining stalks with leaves and wrapping it in burlap or placing a cardboard teepee over it with an open top. Next year as soon as the temperature warms up feed it Rose Tone by Espoma and continue to do so every six weeks for the entire year (every year). DO NOT use miracle gro or any other water soluble plant food because it makes the plant dependant on that feeding every time you water. By some epsom salt (yes for sore muscles) and sprinkle about a table spoon or two around the base of the plant, rioughly 2 inches from the stalk, now and then again next spring. The high levels of magnesium in the Espom salt help the plant with producing blooms. Don't give up hope just yet, if you do this process every year your rose bush will be lush and beautiful for years to come. If you see no improvement next spring within the first few weeks of the bush putting out new growth then it's a lost cause. Goodluck

Greenman

Answer 2

Sounds just like a sucker. Although I have lots of roses, I have never tried to relocate a sucker. It's worth giving it a try. It may turn into a beautiful rose bush given the proper care and light requirements. If it doesn't work then you haven't really lost anything. You shouldn't have to worry about rooting because it should have it's own set of roots, but you may have to detach it from the mother plant or remains of the mother plant. You should be able to move it now, but make sure you water it every other day for the first couple of weeks and then every week for the rest of the season. Hope this helps a little.
If it is a sucker it won't improve if it just stays there. I have a sucker that has remained the same for the past three years. I simply haven't moved it because I haven't found the time. Good luck

Answer 3

It could be a climbing rose just waiting for something to lean on. Try this - keep trimming it back as it grows down to where there are five leaves on a stem. As soon as the flowers are finished blooming, keep clipping them. Add some rose food which you can find at any discount or garden store.