Gardening and Horticulture - Might be killing my rose bush?

I'm in MA and we got a lot of rain recently. After this, I dug up one of my 1yr old bushes to transplant it, put it in a hefty bag- but then I got sick and it started to dry up (leaves wilting, etc)
~36hrs later I now have it sitting in a bucket of water...
I don't know what to do next? Should I leave it like this for a while or get it in the ground ASAP?
Any particular soil prep??? (I was just going to use regular topsoil and fortified peat moss in a deep hole and not plant anything near it)
Thanks,
*also- any tips on "types" of roses that fair well in cold climates? I don't know what kind these are... I have 2, this one has no buds yet but the other one does so I left it in place.
deb:confused:

You can't go wrong if you choose one of the Explorer series of roses. They were developed in Canada and are very cold hardy and disease resistant. A couple of you might like are Alexander MacKenzie, Martin Frobisher, William Baffin, John Cabot, and Champlain. Of course, a Rugosa such as Rosa Rugosa or Blanc Double de Coubert or one of the Morden series would be great as well.
As for that rose you have in the water...I wouldn't get my hopes up. But I'd get it in as the ground as soon as possible

Hi Spikedog,

Sorry you weren't feeling well. Sounds like your rose is hydrated by now. I'd suggest you prune off any dried up roots to live roots, add lots of compost to a generous hole and plant asap. I wouldn't use peat moss as it doesn't contain all that much in nutrients and is difficult to wet once it's dry. When you have to water I would suggest either compost tea or an organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion and kelp mixture. Here's some info on planting roses.
http://www.atlantarose.org/Rose%20Tips/atlantabasics.htm

Newt

Thanks for all the advice... due to "life happenings" the plant's still in the bucket of water and I think a lost cause... so I'll probably invest in a couple of the previously mentioned "tougher" roses and use the compost idea... the soil where it's moving too is awful- very wet and dense...
If I put gravel in the hole 1st- will that help the drainage any???
deb :(

Hi Spikedog,

Sorry I haven't written earlier, but I've been away. Gravel in the hole will help a bit, but water doesn't drain well in clay soil if it's a heavy clay. Compost will help to break up the soil, but if the spot is wet because its low lying, you will need to build up the area. I'd suggest you plant your roses high, sort of like a berm. They don't want to be in wet soil all the time even though they like moisture. If the soil is too wet and you dig in it and plant, you will smother the plant's roots as the air will be compressed out. It will basically become a hard clay. Dig your hole deep, put in gravel. put mixed soil and compost in the hole, place the rose on top and then add more soil and compost, planting it on a hill.

Newt

hey there,
Try putting some root hormone on the roots when you plant it & trim it shortER.
Also..if you are going to ammend your soil with store bought additives, stay away from peat moss & use a mix that says peat instead. Peat moss absorbs so many times its weight in water & during droughts it isn't so good for your plants. It almost sucks the moisture out of the plants. Peat is a different product comming from boggs or areas which were once bogs. Best thing is BAATCO's Michigan Peat. Its all peat with no additives ($$ but worth it) If it won't grow in that it won't grow.
-gnat
PS...Consider starting a compost bin too!

Well, the one that was in the bucket of water is back in the ground and not growing- but may have a chance next year- either that or it's DEAD... time will tell.
Unfortunately, I didn't know the difference about peat and peatmoss- makes sense it could suck moisture away rather than retain it in dense soil...
So, I'll buy a couple new ones soon and hope it's not too late in the season. My other rosebush is blooming beautifully- but only 1/2 the plant is flowering- the other "side" is just foliage on its branches (leaves are looking a little honeycombed too) I see no buds coming either. Good news is my hydrangeas huge this year we've had a lot of rain in Boston and it seems to agree with this bush...
thanks for your advice.
deb

Hi Deb,

Great news so far!! I'd stay away from peat, whatever name they give it. Why deplete the bogs?
http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/facts/peat.htm
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/peat.html#help

I like compost. It's recycled organic material and doesn't deplete anything.

Newt

I read or saw on This Old House that you can purchase these big black plastic "bins" that are for composting and the gov't supplements a lge % of the cost (due to landfill issues)
Would you know if it's OK to put different types of stuff in there like grass clippings AND dead leaves in the Fall? What about tree branches or weeds? Anything to avoid??? I know NOTHING about this.
tx,
deb

Deb, where I live the local gov't gives away free plastic compost bins. They aren't much, but will keep the compost contained.

What to avoid? Any manure from a carnivore or omnivore such as cats, dogs and humans. No meat or meat products and no grease. Egg shells are good as well as used coffee grounds. Starbucks and many other coffee houses give the used grounds to gardeners for free. Just call and ask when to come and bring a large heavy plastic bag or trash can. You can shred newspapers (black print only as you don't want any heavy metals from colored inks), chopped or torn cardboard, junk mail, leaves, chopped branches or twigs as long as they aren't diseased or pest ridden. Grass clippings are great if they don't have pesticides or herbicides on them. Any veggie parings from the kitchen, fruit that has spoiled is good too. Here's some sites that should be helpful.
http://www.howtocompost.org/cat_generalinfo.asp
http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/compostbrochure.pdf
http://vegweb.com/composting/what.shtml
http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/dynamic.htm
http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06957.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/victorygarden/knowhow/pp/soil.html
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/data/soil/2000042647001285.html

Newt

Hi Newt,
That's great information! I have PLENTY of coffee grounds~ and this new place doesn't have a garbage disposal so I usually have fruit I don't get around to eating and my dog isn't much on fruits (except grapes). Sounds like a good plan. Then what- you use this stuff mixed in with dirt with Spring planting???
I'll check out the websites and also look for a FREE bin. I just hope it won't attract skunks or squirrels...
Have a good weekend, (it is raining AGAIN here in Boston)
deb