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.

 

There are folks here that know a lot more about roses than I do, but I'd say as long as its growing (you said its bushing up), then I'd be happy. You moved it just before this year's growing season, and no matter how carefully you were, you will have inevitably damaged the roots. Plants have a survival mechanism for such events. They divert all their energy to healing themselves, and waste no energy on producing flowers and fruit, so this year I wouldn't be alarmed by the absence of flowers. It will be settling in and regaining its strength ready for next year.