Question
QUESTION: Lynnette,
I am completely new to the beautiful world of roses and recently was offered the opportunity to receive a transplanted rose.  These roots unfortunately are not much more than 7 inches in length and were not removed with the best tools (I am told a pruning saw).  My friends son removed from his property and brought to mine in bucket of water where I was advised by several people to leave for a few days as "she" was in shock.  A family member with rose experience from out of town was due for a visit the following week and my lovely rose was planted at this time.  We used some type of growth powder on the root at time of planting and also some bone meal was tossed into the soil before filling her in.  She advised me to leave her alone and let nature take its course as rain was predicted in the weather forecast.  I left her alone for a while but the leaves were beginning to spot and brown so I searched online for a cure for brown spotted leaves and found a product from Bayer called All-in-One rose care.
I decided to buy this and gave the rose one treatment with plenty of water and as the days go by now...the plant is simply dying.  The leaves are now even more brittle and turning entirely brown and the buds that were trying to emerge are also drying up and turning brown.  I am afraid I only made matters worse with the  rose care system I bought, but the rose seemed to be dying and I needed to find something.  I forgot to mention that the 4 ft. tall rose was not trimmed down until I went online and read that pruning back was necessary for transplanting.  I have since trimmed much of her back and I do see that the inside of the cane is not brown (as I read would indicate as being dead.)  Do you think there can be any hope for my rose or should I give up (don't want to) and visit a nursery and start over. Thank you for your time.  It is very much appreciated.

ANSWER: Your poor rose has been through a lot and is under major stress. Don't use any more of the sprays on the rose, as this will only cause more problems as these rose sprays are systemic. Cut the rose right back to 12 inches and leave only about 5 of the best canes and then cut the rest right out to the base. The damaged roots cannot support any more. Water, water, water and keep the soil damp but not soaking wet. The rose has gone into dormancy and will not be able to take up any nutrients and the roots must be kept damp so they won't dry out. Place some sort of a mulch all around the base of the rose bush as roses love cool, damp roots and the mulch will keep  your watered area damp even if the weather turns hot. Every day give it some water even if the leaves look limp, brown or discoloured, keep watering it don't do anything else. This rose, because the roots have been cut off, will take a few weeks or even a couple of months, to start putting out new growth. It may not even start to grow this season but don't give up as next spring will tell you if it has survived the harsh treatment. Don't give it any fertilizer this year as again, the roots can't use it. All you are doing it trying to keep it alive and in time the rose will put out new feeder roots and then they will do the job of making it grow as they take up the nutrients. Next spring you can give it non chemical fertilizer such as fish fertilizer as a rose can use it right away. Chemical fertilizers have to be broken down by the bacteria and worms in the soil before the rose can make use of it. Just view the rose as a person who is recovering from a bad accident and treat it gently as all it needs is water until the new roots start to grow.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Lynnette,
First of all I want to thank you very much for offering your help and expertise to all of us rose enthusiasts: both the experienced and those totally lacking any experience (like me)! I had written you about my newly transplanted rose.  This rose has only 7 inch roots and I was advised to cut the canes back to 12 inches which I did. Lynette, I think she was doing fairly good and I noticed some tiny little leaflets budding out not far from the base of two of the canes.  We have had numerous bunny rabbits roaming the neighborhood this year and to my horror I looked out my window to see a bunny biting at my rose cane.  Not flinching at my pounding on the window, it finally ran away after I got out the back door.  I have some gnaw marks on one of the canes and I remembered reading about Vaseline for wounds and slicked some on it.  Unfortunately I also see that one of the canes is partially snapped and this is starting below the tiny budding leaflet that was trying to sprout.  This bunny is pretty huge and did some damage to my poor rose and I have to say I am devastated.  I ran to the store and bought some liquid fence to spray around the outer perimeter of the garden area but I am not sure now what to do.  These gnaw bites (not deep) start about 6 inches up on the 12 inch cane and the crack or break at the other cane is closer to the base.  I am wondering if I should now cut her back even further (below the gnawed area on the one /and above the slightly cracked cane)or if I can try to heal these wounds... and which would be the best choice to do.  Lynnette, thank you for your valuable time and your much appreciated and needed help.
Sincerely,
Devastated

Answer
The liquid fence is not going to keep the rabbit away for long. So make a cage out of chicken wire to totally protect your rose from all predators. Then cut before the damage. Don't be concerned, as you can prune a rose back to one inch and it will grow back from that small amount. It will just set the rose back a little but it should start to grow again in about ten days time.