Question
I live in Texas and planted a new English Rose bush.  It was looking great at first.  My first blooms appeared and they were small and soft, kind of wilted with the outer petals a little yellowed.  Also, the leaves at the bottom are yellow.

Can you tell me what to do?  From what I have read it could be bad drainage.......

Answer
Roses leaves go yellow at the base of the rose bush for a couple of reasons. The main one is as you said, poor drainage and the roots are sitting in water for too long, and the other is not enough water.Both are easy to find out as you can take a trowel and dig along side of the rose and check the soil to see if it is soggy. Also roses hate to be moved and the rose may just be under stress because perhaps the weather is too warm or too cold. It may have been in a greenhouse type of situation. Because of that, don't be too concerned as it will become adjusted to the new garden.