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Sally Holmes Rose Bush dying??

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I’ve had my Sally’s Holmes Rose bush for over a year, it was doing absolutely great, new green thick leaves, lots of flowers and then we had our first hot weekend and almost all the leaves have fallen off, browned/yellowed. Branches are no longer Green. I checked the soil, not water logged, roots don’t look bad although they were higher up toward surface but not sure if that is strange. Also trimmed it back but it hasn’t seemed to help. Im really concerned and sad about it. We water it in the early morning so it has time to dry off before sun hits it. Give it rose food once in a while. Any suggestions?

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Comments (4)

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
5 years ago
Where are you located? California? Some areas have gophers eating roots. More watering could help if it got too dry.
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HU-94145474
Original Author
5 years ago
Actually the weekend it began dying I noticed a huge hole in my flowerbed! I wonder if it is a gopher! Yes I’m in California, a little north of Sacramento
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Sally Holmes has some funny habits. One is that the plant reblooms better as a young rose. Once it reaches that 8 x 8 to 12 x 12 size, it often reblooms less. That tells us something: Sally reblooms best on newer wood that is well nourished (meaning well-watered). So as your Sally Holmes grows large, if you find that isn't reblooming well, look to two things: (1) are you pruning it in such a way that you're preserving a lot of older wood and pruning back newer canes to maintain shape or size; and (2) are you giving such a massive rose adequate water through the growing season?
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The Sally Holmes that died was purchased as a one gallon own root, and after about a year it had grown to about 5'. It was very happy and vigorous growing rose. It was uprooted poorly and placed in a pot a few weeks ago, and that is when the decline began. I believe SH can tolerate the summer here, as the one that did not survive the move received about 2 hours of afternoon sun, in addition to morning sun, and seemed happy. I have seen some images of SH with this rose appearing extremely large.
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It is indeed a huge and beautiful rose bush Sally Holmes. Seeing it's picture of a close up on tags, I would never think it's potential could be like this. Irisgal, this is right behind the Hagen Museum at Victory Park in Stockton.
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There were 3 podocarpus (fern pines) that were growing along the fence and they were getting huge and were so messy so they had to go. Roots could definitely be an issue. It's been 3 years since we got rid of them and last summer I threw 3 lantanas that I got off the $3 rack from Lowes into the space. They work fine but I need height. I'm trying to remember if I hit roots when planting them. I guess I'll be digging tomorrow to find out. For the spot out front. Clay soil that has not been amended. I think Sally will be ok there. We don't get rain often like we did this year and in future heavy rain years I can always get an attachment that drains the water to the street. I am constantly reinventing my yard so I'm not afraid to get rid or move something if it's not working but still like to research first. Thanks for the feedback!
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mmmm12COzone5
5 years ago
Sorry to hear it. I can't help but do love Sally Holmes. It does sound like you've found your answer. I bet it was something eating the roots.

It is a beautiful bush. I'm amazed yours got so big in a year. I put in 3 last year. One died. I think the rabbits munched on it too much. One is looking beautiful and one is middling.

The pretty one.
barbarag_happy
5 years ago
If you search "gopher cage" you may find jerijen's advice for those in gopher country.

I grew Sally Holmes in part shade in Texas. Never forget it, what a beautiful plant! It was absolutely huge, and I loved those big trusses of blooms.
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