I don't know how big your rose is, or where you live. If you live in a mild climate, I would cut the rose back to healthy looking wood, and then water it a LOT. If you live where it is still freezing, i would get advice from someone who lives in a colder climate.

Jackie

Oh sorry. I’m in Florida. Our highs are in the mid 70’s right now.

It’s about three years old. The old wood is about 3 inches think but only about 10-12 inches long? The new canes are over 6 feet but spindly. After I prune them back would it be safe to give it some diluted emulsion?

Thank you Kim. Thats a great idea. I’ll move it to a shadier location and wrap what isn’t pruned. I didn’t see this in time to save the newer growth. :(

@suncoastflowers you're welcome! I can't claim credit for the tee shirt idea. It's what @roseangellyn discovered some years ago and shared with me. Good luck!

Thanks :) If I can keep from loving it to death and it’s not to late hopefully I’ll have some progress pictures to post soon. 😂

Try growing it in some more shade! I have some austins in partial shade and they do well, make sure to water them tons too. Mine only grow when they have copious amounts of water. Good luck!

Graham Thomas is a notorious water hog! I use it as the canary in the mine for watering. He is always the first one to wilt when it's dry out there. But if I catch the wilt quick and water him well he usually perks right back up. See if you can find a spot where he only gets morning sun and keep him well watered and he should do fine.

I know it goes against everything you've been told but...give your roses a shower now and then. As Kim said, they do take in water from the leaves and canes. Spraying them with the hose to wash them off (they get dusty and dirty) and cool them down will help them retain moisture. Especially in hot weather.

Absolutely, Seil! Water rehydrates them and pushes growth and bloom like crazy. Remember who good they look after a good rain? It washes off old spray residue (if that's something you have to do); dust, dirt and industrial pollution; ash from recent fires; and INSECTS and fungi spores. It isn't just GT demanding more water. As a group, DA roses demand significantly more water here than any other type, which is one (of many) reasons they aren't here any more.

Thank you! I will be more diligent! He was planted near the faucet because I had bear he was a water hog. Unfortunately he had a LOT of root competition and even though I amended the soil and mulched heavily, he suffered. He was in full sun near a white wall so I’m sure that didn’t help.

I’ll make sure that either he is either in part shade and that he gets a lot of water or possibly in a biiiig pot in the shade.

I like the canary in the mineshaft idea.

Thank you all for the guidance. When is it safe to feed him? I have Alaska Fiish Emulsion Fertilizer, Milorganite and some well rotted horse manure that might be OK.. I also have Osmocote but I don’t that is organic and would be more likely to burn.

GT looks looks he has a basal break!

Don't feed that plant until it is flush with new foliage. Even fish emulsion is "salty" compared to plain old water. Water stressed plants, given salty water, dry out further. Between here and Face Book, I can't tell you how may posts I have recently read of people transplanting and fertilizing "shriveled plants". Never apply anything other than water to a plant suffering water stress until it fully expresses it is no longer water stressed. The best indication it is no longer water stressed is when it fully covers itself with fresh, new foliage.

Thank you Kim! I’ll definitely wait then!

@suncoastflowers you're welcome! Good luck!