Question
Last spring on a pink Buck rose and this spring on a yellow Buck rose, one very thick strong new shoot shot up from the ground along side of the bush and put out a lot of buds at the very top.  These new canes tower about the rest of the bush.  Should I let it grow or cut it back to the same height as the rest of the bush?  (I can't find any info on this process!)  Thank you!

Answer
Roses sometimes grow canes from the understock that a rose is budded onto and they are called suckers. However to make sure that it is a sucker, you should dig down alongside and see if it is coming from the bud union. The bud union looks like a knob and if the cane is coming from below the bump, then it is a sucker and should be taken off. But if it is coming from above the lump, then it is part of the top rose and should be left on. If that is the case then just cut the cane back even with the rest of the other canes to make it look better.