Bare root roses struggling this year?

[WellieBootsBlue]

I love roses, and have loads in my garden, and generally tend to plant them as bare roots during the winter. I planted three bare roots this last winter; I've already lost two, and the last is looking very sorry for itself, and like it's about to keel over. It's so strange, every other bare root I've planted in previous years has been absolutely fine. I was wondering if it was anything to do with all the rain we've been having? Has anyone else experienced this at all?

Hello WellieBootsBlue,

Roses are tough plants and planted correctly should result in success. Two thoughts come to mind. One is the quality / condition of the roses and two were they planted in soil where roses had been growing before. If roses are planted in soil where they had been growing before the problem may be replant disease sometimes referred to as soil sickness or rose replant disease.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/prevention-protection/replant-disease

Are you able to upload pictures of the roses in question and a picture of where they were planted?

Happy gardening
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Thanks so much for your response @thesustainablegardener, no definitely not planted where roses were before, and planted in a lovely sunny spot. They were also planted with mycorrhizal fungi. I've pulled out the two that have died, attached are photos of the one that is just about lingering on! As the stems have blackened and died I've cut them back, and now there is just one stem remaining, which is also black. It does have some growth (and even a bud!) on it, but is looking incredibly sorry for itself.

Hello again WellieBootsBlue,

I would cut out the stems that are not green back to an outward facing bud or down to the ground. I would also feed the surviving rose with a rose fertiliser up until the autumn.

In relation to your other two roses if you have moved them from somewhere else they don’t tend to move successfully as the have strong anchorage roots but not as many fibrous one as you would think. Roses can manage without the anchorage roots if you move them however the crucial ones they need are the fibrous roots for nutrients and water uptake.

I you are looking for a book on pruning I highly recommend The Royal Horticultural Society Pruning & Training. The chapter on rose pruning runs to 26 pages!

You may also want to check out the following websites.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/roses/growing-guide

www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-roses/

I hope the above helps

Happy gardening
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@thesustainablegardener Thank you for the tip on the RHS pruning manual - just picked it up second hand.

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I think they are newer editions than the one I have in the picture however pruning methods don’t change.

There are many pruning books out on the market however having looked at other books on the subject nothing I have come across beats it.

Happy pruning
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Thank you so much @thesustainablegardener - I going off to track down a copy of that book! @

Hello WellieBootsBlue,

My pleasure

One final suggestion when pruning out dead stems from roses which may possibly be diseased and any other plants with diseased stems sterilise / wipe over the blade and anvil blade secateurs with something like a Dettol wipe in between each plant. It is also good practice to clean your secateurs anyway at the end of a morning, afternoon or even a day in the garden to prevent them gunking up.

Happy gardening
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