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I think my rose is sick

13 years ago

Hello all! Usually I hang out in the Kitchen forum, but have come over here to see if anyone can help me. I have a rose that was my grandmothers. About 10 years ago when she moved from her house to a nursing home I dug up the rose and brought it home. It has been very happy until last year. My mom thinks this rose bush is about 60 years old, if that means any thing. But quite honestly, it could just be a baby of the rose she remembers from that many years ago. My grandmother was always rooting trimmings!

OK, a little about the rose. And please let me say, I know NOTHING about roses!!! I think it is considered a climber. It is about 12 feet tall right now. It is a fuscha pink color, and has a marvelous smell. It has many petals, so not what is called, I think, an old fashioned rose.

Starting last year the stems are dying back from the tips. Some have died back about 3 feet, a couple all the way back to the ground. Does anyone have any idea what would be causing this? And can I save it? Oh, and I see some large black spots on some leaves.

It was always so healthy before, I dont' know what happened. I didn't do anything differently.

Thank you for any help!

S

P.S. I'm in the Charlotte, NC area, if this matters.

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Comments (4)

buford
13 years ago
It could be midge, which is a bug that destroys the tips of canes. Although that doesn't usually cause that much damage. If you could post a picture of the damaged areas, that would help identify what it is. The large black spots on the leaves are most likely black spot, which is a common fungal disease of roses. The Southeast has been hit particularly hard by it this year, I'm surprised you haven't seen it sooner if you've had the rose this long. Maybe it's a resistant variety.
sbcichocki
Original Author
13 years ago
And of course I just cut all of the damaged areas off and got rid of it!! I don't know why I didn't think to take a picture.
I did look up pictures of midge damage on the web, and it looks like that causes wilting. My rose tips are hard and brown, just like if you had cut off a piece of the rose bush and set it aside for a week or more to dry. It is very brittle, the ends will snap in my hand, even the pieces that are as big around as a pencil.
If, and I am hoping it doesn't happen again, it does this on any other branches I will take a picture and post it.
Thank you!
S
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sbcichocki
Original Author
13 years ago
Actually, my hubby pruned last year. He just kinda cuts where-ever. Like I said, I don't know anything about roses.
If I wanted to really really cut this rose back and move it (it's right next to holly bushes, almost total shade, not a good spot) how far back can I cut it and be safe? And what time of year do I do that?
Thank you for all your answers!
S

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