It seems you don't like the rose. Feeling that way, why waste energy trying to revive it? Time for the shovel.

I agree. How many resources are you willing to throw at a plant that "sometimes", "might" give you a beautiful flower? How much water are you willing to drag to the garden to beg it to produce that occasional flower? I don't have to drag water, just the hose, but if the blamed thing won't cooperate and show some appreciation for my efforts and the resources I pay for to support it, WHY should I support it? The plant doesn't seem happy to be with you. Why continue "enjoying its misery"? Provide that space and those resources to one which WANTS to please you.

Is there some place on a hill you could plant it where you could enjoy its blooms from above?

I felt something the same way about Therese Bugnet. It had occasionally lovely blooms for about 2 weeks in early spring with just enough blooms to warrant saving from the shovel. Mine was the opposite problem for hardiness though - it was in prime real estate taking up massive space that was just a green blob the rest of the year. No disease troubles, but little real joy either. I kept hoping for the lovely blooms I'd heard about from others but they just never materialized over about 12 years.

When I had to dig out all my roses with Rosemaggedon, that was one of the few roses that I realized I actually was looking forward to removing forever. Looking back, I should have done it long ago, but I hate to kill a rose and like to look on the bright side of things. I now have 4 roses I actually like taking that space without TB using up valuable resources (like water in your case) that could be spent on one more beautiful (call out to At Seventeen and all that teen angst).

I guess the question is, would you be sadder if it were gone, or sadder to have to face it yet another rose season? There's a huge sunk cost that I have in most of my roses but a little time expenditure in some cases can make me so much more content.

Cynthia

Piggybacking off of vaporvac in terms of relocating options, IF you like the rose enough, you could plant it below a window you sit next to in your house, so you would be looking “down” on the blooms from inside. I’ve seen Queen of Sweden planted like this with beautiful results.

O, you people are great.I hope the comments keep coming; other people's thoughts REALLY help me to think about the situation and figure out what I truly want to do.

When a plant stops making you smile, give it the boot, There are so many wonderful roses that will make your heart sing . Say goodbye and dont feel a bit guilty

Particularly when you have to drag water out to maintain it. If it's a simple matter of hitting it with a hose or letting the sprinklers handle it, that's fine, but when it really requires THAT kind of effort....

I wouldn't waste fertilizer & water on a rose that does not make me happy .

What would I do? I'd ask myself if this rose serves a purpose where it is. Does it do a good job shoring up a slope or growing in a spot where nothing- not just a rose- will? Do I expend resources that would be better spent elsewhere? If this rose is in a spot where it needs to be productive, I'd replace it with something that will. Otherwise, l'd leave it where it is for the time being, until the right rose comes along.

Hauling watering cans is the game breaker for me. Your back needs a break, a permanent one. Vesalius is a stunner at its best, though. Just don't hurt your back shoveling it out.

Another thing, just think of the wonderful replacement roses out there that you can go through in deciding its replacement. A new beginning is always uplifting. Have no regrets. Don't look back, just forward. Enjoy the change!

Moses

Should you pot it up? If it comes out with its roots looking good, and you can water it more easily, do it. It's height may reduce, and if placed in a shady spot the blooms may retain their color and outer petals not edge crisp. Then you will have a rose that's a joy to care for. You don't want the chance for these potential changes slipping out of your hands if you just toss it.

You could end up with a Vesalius you greatly enjoy, and a new winner in its former spot in your garden.

Moses

First thought: I've never had much luck potting up puny roses.

Second thought: if a rose is unsatisfactory but doing no harm where it is, I don't bother with it. I have space.

Third thought: I generally hate killing plants, and do so only if I really need to.

Fourth thought: in the rare cases where I've actually dug up and killed a rose, it's been my stomach, not my head, that's made the decision: I couldn't stand the plant any more.

These ideas are offered in no particular order.

How proactive everyone is! I tend to give less and less attention to things which no longer have the power to prod me into action...which often results in dilemmas solving themselves through sheer prevarication. Plants live and thrive...or wither and die....apparently regardless of my time or effort. I rarely need to offer up the coup de grace...in fact, as a dithery and often idle gardener, unless I absolutely am forced to act (because of disease or blocking a neighbours path), I tend to concentrate on those things which give me the most pleasure, but more usually, in the crowded chaos, those which are accessible. Numerous roses have fallen by the wayside through no real decision making on my part.

Another deciding factor would be replacement. Rose replant syndrome tends to preclude simply replacing one rose with another, so unless I really needed the space for a new bed or something, there are too many plants which require my time to fret overmuch about those which are less than stellar. Selective vision is possibly one of my greatest assets. And £££ of course...which are not in any sort of abundance.

When I become unhappy about a rose bush or any shrub/plant I usually make changes right away! So there is no time to beat myself up trying to decide what to do...lol

Once again, thanks to all. I dug it up, and it does have quite a nice root system. So why did it suffer SO much die-back? Did I not work enough on improving the soil when planting it? Not enough water ? (quite probable). Or the fact that I didn't shade it? Any more the summers here are just too hot for roses to tolerate a lot of sun.

This last thing-the fact that I didn't put up shade cloth over it- makes me think that probably I didn't really like it enough to go to the extra trouble. Still, I think I'll pot it up again and see what happens. The reasons pro sp-ing are all quite valid,and I like Jim's approach very much, but part of me has doubts; it might improve with age. Keeping it watered here at home is no big deal,and I can always dump it later on if it seems like it won't bounce back ,or if I decide that I just don't like it. The fact is, it isn't like the horrendous E. Veyrat Hermanos- my experience with that has provided me with a gold standard. Even though it was years ago I still feel relieved to have that pathetic baller out of my life.

I do think you are right to pot it, Bart. I have had roses cook that were in a horrible hot spot and it was not the rose's fault.

When I an trying to decide the fate of a rose, I ask myself the following…

1. Have I given it enough time to show what it can do?

2. Have i given it its best shot in terms of sun exposure, water, fertilizer, etc?

3. Is there another spot in the garden where it might florish and am I willing to give it that space?

4. Have I heard anything about this rose that makes me hopeful that it may improve given more time, do I have the patience to wait?

5. Is there something else I am itching to try in the space that would be freed up by removing it.

My mind automatically goes to #3 for an instant then my mind skips straight to #5 Markay...lol

I can confirm Rosefolly's comment about finding someone else to take her unwanted roses. I attended a dinner party at her house in 2002 or 2003, and she gave me her Peter Mayle, which had recently been released. She knows what she likes! Peter drove home with me from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara, and I still gow it and love it all these years later :-D