Sounds like stem borers or mossy rose gall. Remove canes in the fall. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/6594-07.html Rose Stem Borer The rose stem borer, Agrilus aurichalceus, damages rose canes when larvae tunnel in a spiral fashion beneath the bark, girdling and killing the canes (figures below). Their presence is indicated when a cane dies above the point of borer tunneling. Leaves on the infected cane turn brown as they die, creating a "flag" among healthy, green-leaved canes. On close observation, a swelling or gall on the infected cane can be seen below the dead tissue, indicating where the borerÂs tunneling occurred. The gall formation weakens canes and it is common to see infected canes broken off by wind. The quickest and most effective control is removal and disposal of infected canes in fall. From top to bottom: rose stem borer flag, rose stem borer gall, and rose stem borer tunneling. Mossy Rose Gall Mossy rose galls are caused by Diplolepis spinosa, a cynipid gall wasp. These galls are common on wild roses of North America, from Ontario to Alberta in Canada and throughout most of the northern United States. They are becoming common on Rugosa cultivars.17 The presence of these insects is indicated by the formation of spherical, golf ball-size, spiny galls on the canes of host plants. The development of these galls is stimulated in the spring by newly hatched larvae. The galls encase the larvae until adult wasps emerge the following spring. The galls are unsightly and alter the plantÂs shape. They also stress the host plant, behaving like nutrient sinks, drawing nutrients away from the rest of the plant.17, 18 Large numbers of galls on a plant can kill the plant. Insecticides have no effect on the wasp that causes mossy rose gall. The most effective control is physical removal and disposal of galls in autumn after leaves have dropped and galls are visible. It is important to dispose of all galls since even a single missed gall can produce and reintroduce 30 to 40 mature wasps to the garden the following spring.

jerijen I'm just saying that soil & water pH may not be the problem, it might be the type of rugosa that she has. I was commenting about the heat only because of what you said you had experienced recently. I love many things about KS, but the heat plus humidity in summer is not one of them. Not having to use A/C sounds wonderful. I think michaelg is right. Get rid of the plant. There are others (other rugosa hybrids or other types of roses) that should do much better for her. Wal-Mart isn't the best of places to get roses. As you found out bug_girl deals are not necessarily all they're cracked up to be. So what kind of rugosa did you buy or did it just say 'Rugosa' and you don't really know exactly what it is? We're all here trying to help. Spraying it might not be doing it any good either. Rugosa don't do well with spraying. Shovel pruning the rose is a good suggestion. I'd listen especially to the advice given by those who live in CA.

Yes, I do. One long bed (60-70' long) of alternated Purple Pavement and Snow Pavement Rugosa's. They are planted up part of a driveway and on a bank. They were picked as the Pavement series sucker aggressively and spread on their own roots so they fill in areas very quickly and create a dense impenetrable thicket. I will find the pics for you tonight from 2 years or so ago and post them up.This bed has never been pruned and maintained. The only pruning they ever get is with the riding mower when the suckers reach into the grass. The hedge is now about 6-7' tall after 3 years and impenetrable. Also have a long hedge of mixed Rugosas planted in a raised bed made of stacked railway ties(sp?). I'll see if I can find a pic of that too. You can make a hedge with the species Rugosas, but many of the hybrids are also more than capable, just as hardy and disease resistant and overall, better bloomers over a long season. Don't discount the hybrid Rugosas as they are usually better plants than the species, Rubra and Alba for garden/bloom performance.

I've never seen stem girdler damage -- yet. I have a large black raspberry bed next to several of my rugosas. Sooner or later my rugosas will probably get hit too. Your posts have me thinking someday when I find the proper space for it I'll have to get Polareis...