Only 1 Cane...

[GardenGeisha]

This summer my plant caretaker accidentally knocked off the healthy green sprout on my "Double Delight" rose, while dragging a hose to water an Alberta spruce. This is the rose that has suffered greatly the past few years from accidental weed-whacking. Now it is down to just one cane. Any chance it can survive? Does this rose generally grow on its own roots? It was bought from Jackson-Perkins about 10 years ago. The one cane bloomed this summer, even after the sprout was knocked off and didn't grow back. Is there anything I can do to encourage its survival over the upcoming winter. Last winter was mild, fortunately. This spring it came back VERY pale yellow foliage, nearly white, and I thought it was a goner, but I put iron in holes around it at the dripline and it greened right up and bloomed. The leaf eater bees love to munch on its sparse foliage. How could I get more canes to grow???

 

[GardenGeisha]

No one has any thoughts on this?

 

[Carol Dee]

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-take-care-of-roses.html
I have trouble keeping roses for more than 2 years. You are doing great if it is 10 years old. Most plants send out side shoots after being pruned. Good Luck

 

[Smart Red]

No one has any thoughts on this?

Sorry. If you could see all the roses I've killed over the years you would understand why I didn't offer any thoughts on the subject. If the rose plant is still alive. . . a good mulch covering the plant -- after the ground freezes -- will give it the best chance for survival. A bit of rose fertilizer early in the spring would be another good idea. Finally, a whole lot of prayers would be useful.

 

[so lucky]

I would think Double Delight has a grafted rootstock, like most hybrid roses now days. Make sure the cane that is remaining is actually coming off the grafted "stump" and not out of the ground from the rootball. If from the rootball, it is most likely not your Double Delight rose, but something maybe similar, maybe not. I wouldn't prune it back too short. Maybe leave 8" or so to that one cane. Roses are very hardy and probably don't die from the cold, but maybe from being dried out too much before the freezing weather hits. Make sure it gets enough water before winter. Mulch it good, then fertilize in the spring. If you want to prune off a little more before growth starts in the spring, you could, but I probably wouldn't. There should be several canes grow out of that one cane. Some rose fertilizers have a systemic insecticide mixed in. You will still probably have to spray it, for insects as well as for diseases.
There are a lot of "maybe"s and "probably"s in this post. That's just the thing about hybrid roses. Lots of uncertainty.

 

[Smart Red]

What so lucky says sounds great. She may be a lot better with roses than I've been. I did search and at least some mail order stores sell them on their own roots stock. Couldn't find out if they all did.

 

[GardenGeisha]

I'm pleased to report we are having an extra-long summer. Temps still near 80 here, and a new shoot has started growing out of the one cane. So there is hope... The leafcutter bees have loved chewing on this rose two years in a row, as well as another one. What sort of rose fertilizer would you recommend I put on it (brand and amount), and when in the spring should I apply it?

 

[GardenGeisha]

Smart Red, thanks for your research. This Rose came from Jackson Perkins which is now Wayside Gardens. It is about 10 years old. What sort of mulch would you recommend I put on it for the winter, and when?

 

[GardenGeisha]

Thanks, so lucky, for all the great info. I will water it. I'm careful with water, because it was in a location that got too much-- and I think that's wh the leaves turned white/pale yellow. I bought a $30.00 can of Iron and put around it, and it greened up Root compaction/over watering were thought to be the causes of the chlorosis it had, that I bought the Iron treatment for. It really worked. You can't tell it ever had a problem, other than having only one cane and the new shoot. The leaves look lovely and green.

 

[Smart Red]

Did I mention I am a killer of roses? Someone here will be of great service to you. I can't help, honestly!