"Susan Solomon" asked:

I purchased a beautiful, fresh and healthy-looking bareroot bagged Peace
HT
from Home Depot several weeks ago, and proceeded to plant it immediately
after shaking off the moist sawdust packing. (it's in a clay-sand mix in
full sun) I watered the plant well after planting, , and water it every 2
days. However, over three weeks have gone by, no buds have broken, and
horror of horrors, the canes are starting to dry out. (Not turn black, as
in
canker, just dry out - dessicate.) It sure looks like it's going to be a
fatality.

Should I dig it up and soak it for a couple of days, then plant it again?
The three other roses I purchased and planted the same day are doing well
and have begun to grow. ???

I appreciate any help you can give!
Thanks!
Sue in SoCal

Hello Sue,

Let's start from ground zero he never plant a bareroot
rose right out of the bag or the box, or the whatever they
are in.

When you get them home get some warm water in a bucket
(not cold as the capillaries close with cold water and warm
tends to help open them) and let that poor thing soak up
to 24 hours. Just before planting it, get some Super Thrive
diluted with water (you don't need much, just enough
to moisten the roots after you put it in the ground) and
then take that baby to its new home. Make the mound and
spread the roots, and now moisten them well with the Super
Thrive mixture. If you have any alfalfa pellets add some
and if you are in a dry area put some water crystals, no
more than a couple of tablespoons around before covering
the whole thing with soil. A bit of mulch wouldn't hurt
and probably will help at this point.

Since the rose in question appears to be in some kind of
distress -not to talk about the owner ;) - you really have
nothing to lose by checking where the roots are at now.
So carefully lift the plant and gently wash away any soil
that may cling to the roots. Get your Super Thrive and
warm water and try to see if that helps. If in fact the poor
thing is dehydrated this will help. If the problem is some
other thing, it wouldn't hurt. I suspect that the way those
poor things get whacked at the knee has something to do
with it. But some times you can rescue them from that
miserable starting point and make them healthy.

Check to make sure there are no cane borers or any other
insect having lunch and dinner on your rose and make
sure the soil around the rose is friable, or at least well
amended to give the poor roots a break. I am sure others
will chime in with better advice but if it was my rose
that is certainly what I would do. Good luck and happy
gardening,

Allegra