Thanks, Lyn. I have noticed when a rose fails here, for no obvious reason like being dug up by a dog, it always has a puny root system. This is especially true of the body bag roses I have received (and sometimes still receive) as gifts. Would the poor waifs have done better in pots? I have good soil and a mild winter climate, but the summers are consistently hot and humid. I hate killing my plants for lack of early care. Once established my roses are expected to fend for themselves, and most of them do since they are predominantly old garden roses.
