We recently bought a home that has a beautiful Rose bush. It has since stopped blooming so I fertilized it with the appropriate fertilizer and watered it in well. We now have a very healthy looking shoot that is coming up from below the ground so I assume it's also below the graft. I say cut it off, my wife says we should leave it alone!

Position?

Thanks, Jim

We recently bought a home that has a beautiful Rose bush. It has since stopped blooming so I fertilized it with the appropriate fertilizer and watered it in well. We now have a very healthy looking shoot that is coming up from below the ground so I assume it's also below the graft. I say cut it off, my wife says we should leave it alone!

Position?

Thanks, JimHi! Jim,
If Just Dahlia were here she'd tell you to cut it off, and if it's a sucker I'd say yes too.

Personally, I usually don't cut anything unless its dead or dying.

U of Ill Ext.:
Pruning Roses (http://urbanext.illinois.edu/roses/prune.html)
There's videos here:
trimming roses - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHMI_enUS335US335&aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=trimming+roses)

This is what I use:
Bayer Advanced 3-in-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control Concentrate (http://www.bayeradvanced.com/product/3-in-1-Insect-Disease-and-Mite-Control/concentrate.html)

Self-explanatory:
Rose Care Basics - Bayer Advanced (http://www.bayeradvanced.com/article/rose-care-basics.html)
Fertilizing Roses - Bayer Advanced (http://www.bayeradvanced.com/article/fertilizing-roses.html)

K

Growing roses can be an invigorating experience if you know how to care for your rose bushes. Timely pruning, fertilizing and spraying can ease your task to a great extent so that you do not have to worry about diseases and pests.

One main point to be noted while taking care of your rose plants is that they need the right amount of water. Too much or too little of watering can kill the delicate rose bushes. Too much of water may leave the roots shallow thus making them unable to absorb essential nutrients and develop a strong root system. Shallow watering may encourage fungal growth; thus deep watering is preferred. The leaves too need to be kept dry or else they will be plagued by diseases.

Caring for Roses - Caring for Rose Bushes (http://www.perennial-gardens.com/flower-articles/caring-for-rose-bushes.htm)

I vote not to cut it until you see what kind of roses it produces. Then if you don't like the roses from the shoot, cut 'er off.