Worried about a Rose Bush

Hi all,

I recently planted a rose bush in my garden that had been in my grandmother's garden for 50 years. It was planted during the winter when it was dormant. The soil where I live is a clay based soil. The bush has put out some leaves but that's about all it has done, it is not blooming despite me giving it some rose feed and watering it when the ground around it is dry. I am really worried about it as it was planted by my grandfather before he died more than 40 years ago and I'd be devastated if it died. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Wise words from a wise owl .....

 

I don't actually know the name of the rose as my grandfather bought it from a magazine more than 40 years ago but my mum is sure that the word blue is in the name, although it does bloom a silvery/blue-ish colour. The rose is positioned against a fence that gets sunlight in the late afternoon; I have other roses growing alongside and they are thriving.

 

Hi wiseowl, I have just shown my mum a picture of the blue moon rose and she has just confirmed it is exactly the same rose, so it is a hybrid tea rose.

 

Good luck Weas....'we've' just got to keep this rose going.....can't wait to see a pic of the blooms

 

I just thought I'd let you all know that my grandfather's rose bush finally shuffled off to the great garden in the sky. After two years of trying to coax the thing into growing it just didn't want to know and is now in the garden waste bin. My mum is upset but she understands the struggles I've had with it.

 

The thing is that it never really took root. It had one huge woody root and nothing growing off of it. There were also bits of dead wood that literally fell apart in my hands as I checked it over. Also noticed some white mould growing on the woody root.

 

Okay, @wiseowl, I have followed your advice and have trimmed the tap root and stuck it in a pot with some nice, new, clean compost. It is now sitting in the sun and I will update with some pictures if - fingers crossed - it finally shows some signs of life. Silly as it seems I have even told the plant it is on last chance saloon so it'd better do something.