something killing or eating rose bush leaves

Question

In the fall, two of my rose bushes started to lose their leaves. Branches were ok and new sprouts grew and started to flower but then leaves were gone again. I treated the as always with Bayer advanced rose and flower stuff that you put on the roots. They have continued to loose all of their leaves. I want my bushes to sprout in the spring but am afraid to cut back. What is causing this and How do I save my roses? I have looked but have not seen worms or bugs. Please help if you can.

Answer 1

The most common causes of leaf drop are incorrect watering and excessive heat, particularly at night. With heat stress the plant goes dormant to conserve moisture and energy. If this is the case, it should rebound quickly when temps return to normal. Overwatering will lead to root rot so make sure the top 2 inches of soil are dry become giving your rose a deep watering. Lastly, check for spider mites. They can be hard to detect so look up pictures so you’ll know what to look for. They are most evident on the underside of leaves. I’m assuming the leaves look normal before dropping. If you are seeing evidence of foliar disease, please repost with a picture of the infected leaves and plant.