I wonder if that strip is just too narrow for them, with the roots from the large roses impinging on their territory. By the way what are those two beautiful roses?

The larger roses are Teasing Georgia, St Swithun, & Generous Gardner. These are planted in a timber raised bed and physically separated from the POAK roses. And the furthest down the line POAKs don't even have a large rose opposite them (yet). So we don't think crowding is an issue. Or at least the issue (crowding in general might have a small effect as we are Cottage Gardeners so some crowding is a way of life).

Aren't some pressure treatments of wood bad for plants? Hopefully not the problem.

That last photo definitely shows signs of mosaic virus on the leaves. I don't know enough about mosaic virus to say whether that's the cause of the collapse, though. If you suspect it's the soil, you could try potting one up in a large pot with good potting soil, and seeing if it shows more signs of vigor this season than the ones that remain in the ground.

No, the bed was put in 16 years ago, and the roses that are planted directly in it (as you see) are thriving....

I sent this whole thing directly to David Austin awhile back, -but of course I have received no reply. Some times when it is just one rose you shrug and say who knows? But all twelve? Just doesn't make sense...

When we planted them in 2012 we dug the whole thing up and filled it in with nice compost. And again, everything else in there has always been happy.

That's so odd and I'm sure very frustrating! No sign of voles possibly nibbling away at the roots?

"and seeing if it shows more signs of vigor this season than the ones that remain in the ground."

If it's like past years, they will grow this year. What seems to be happening however is winter kill. When spring arrives there is no growth or living canes to build on from the prior year, and every spring things look smaller than the year before. This spring they look like bands!

But there's a bunch of folks on this board who say they are growing POAK in zone 5 without a problem...And as stated, this past winter was very mild.

No signs of any pests (we are in the city, so no voles) or disease, beyond the 3 with Rose Mosaic.

I wish I had an answer for you, I have no idea. I love your fence with the gorgeous climbing roses though.

I hope you can get the problem resolved, PAOK is one of my favorite roses.

If you are in the city and in zone 6, I am thinking they got salt damage from the street and sidewalk. I plant cheap roses near the street, some of them got salt damage pretty bad, but KOs and Altissimo are salt eaters.

I thought about that. But we don't salt the sidewalk, and the city doesn't use salt on the side roads. And again, companion plants grow without trouble.

Is that a wood mulch you've got over them? How long has that been down?

Where are you?

We mulch every spring. We are in Providence, RI

Do you have dogs pee on roses since they're next to the sidewalk? That would kill the roses.....

It might be a combo of RMV and winter stress. If RMV has weakened your plants, they might be declining each year while struggling to return from cold season dormancy, whereas clean plants would bounce right back each spring.

I suspect that if all your plants are Austins grafted on Dr. Huey, they may all be infected with RMV. Some plants with RMV exhibit obvious signs and some don't. Also, some plants with RMV thrive for decades while others fade. Who knows why?

As mentioned on another thread, Austin continues to send infected plants to customers by the truckload. (I'm paddling in the same pool of victims.) I'd definitely contact Austin with photos of your virus patterned foliage and declining plants. It's inexcusable that the company still propagates on diseased rootstock. Carol

I did not know that a rose could have RMV but not show symptoms. Maybe that makes sense, and maybe that is why Austin has never responded to me?

As for the dog pee, it's a problem, but they always do it in the sidewalk strip opposite, which drives us crazy trying to keep it up...

When we planted them in 2012 we dug the whole thing up and filled it in with nice compost

Please explain, what do you mean by "nice compost"? They are not planted in soil?

"Please explain, what do you mean by "nice compost"? They are not planted in soil?"

We have a local nursery that delivers nice rich compost by the yard, and that is what we used (and continue to use).

Dog's pee killed your roses. You can put out some Chemical spray warning flags there, that might help to keep the dogs away from your roses, dog owners would pull their dogs away from chemical treated plants, I have to put out warning flags to keep dogs away from my roses near the street, I don't have a sidewalk.

http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dog-behavior-training-pee-kills-plants-tips

We don't think it's dog pee. Everything else planted there grows just fine...As stated, the dogs use the sidewalk strip opposite, rather than the PAOK strip, and the damage is readily apparent.

I've heard back from David Austin. They believe the cause is Rose Mosaic. And they are going to stand behind and replace all 12. Good news I guess, but my dream of a low POAK hedge will be set back another few years...

Best of luck, Clarion! Carol