Rose leaves yellowing

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by DevonDays, May 12, 2025.

  1. DevonDays

    DevonDays Apprentice Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +12
    • I'd be grateful for advice from rose experts, as you can see I've got a problem with yellowing leaves. This is a shrub rose, armada and in its fourth year (having done extremely well in the past 3 years).
      The two causes that immediately spring to mind are:
      Lack of water - the very dry spring is likely having an impact. I haven't watered it much as I consider it to be a well established rose.
      Fertiliser burn - back in March I gave the surrounding soil a good hefty sprinkling of 6X Natural Fibrous. Lack of rain coupled with my tardiness in not watering the fertiliser in properly could be a culprit
      In addition to this, there's a lot of growth around the rose which I need to hack back. It all grew rather suddenly whilst I was away for a bit
      so I wonder if there's a bit of a problem with competition/lack of airflow In. the past week or so since noticing the yellow leaves I've been giving it a watering can of water every 3 days.
      This is a very special rose so I'm keen to keep on top of the problem - my question is, is there anything I've missed from the above and should I be cutting away the dying stems/yellowing leaves... Or is it too late?
    20250508_185427.jpg 20250508_185431.jpg 20250508_185455.jpg 20250508_185441.jpg
     
  2. Plantminded

    Plantminded Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2024
    Messages:
    2,519
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wirral
    Ratings:
    +8,508
    I’m not a rose expert but I think you have identified the causes yourself. Even established plants can suffer with lack of rain at this time of year when they are putting their energy into the production of new foliage. I would remove the yellowed leaves, clear around the base and give your plant a good, deep watering every two days if there’s been no rain. The plant looks quite healthy overall and should respond well.
     
  3. infradig

    infradig Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2022
    Messages:
    1,624
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Freelance self preservationist
    Location:
    Solent
    Ratings:
    +1,950
    I'm no rose expert either but suspect it could be a magnesium deficiency.Add a tablespoon of epsom salts to a gallon of water each fortnight as you water.
    Westlab Epsom Bath Salt 1kg - Boots
     
  4. DevonDays

    DevonDays Apprentice Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2018
    Messages:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +12
    Thanks for your replies, much appreciated
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • DevonDays

      DevonDays Apprentice Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 7, 2018
      Messages:
      13
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +12
      Having checked again, some of the stems are definitely struggling in addition to the yellow leaves. It's all gone a bit droopy as you can hopefully see...

      I'm guessing this is either too dry or disease?

      20250513_173212.jpg 20250513_173207.jpg 20250513_173158.jpg
       
    • Plantminded

      Plantminded Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 13, 2024
      Messages:
      2,519
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Wirral
      Ratings:
      +8,508
      That does look more concerning. Have you watered? One of my recently planted roses wilts every afternoon in the current heat and sun. Maybe @Busy-Lizzie can offer further advice if she sees this.
       
    • DevonDays

      DevonDays Apprentice Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 7, 2018
      Messages:
      13
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +12
      Thank you, yes it's been watered every 2-3 days. It is out of the hottest afternoon sun.

      I seem to remember a @Mrs Hillard was quite a rose expert - I'd be very grateful of advice if possible!

      Many thanks
       
    • Busy-Lizzie

      Busy-Lizzie Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 13, 2024
      Messages:
      2,191
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Norfolk and Dordogne, France
      Ratings:
      +8,371
      I think it has suffered from lack of water as there has been very little rain and quite warm weather for a few weeks now. You said in your first post that you hadn't watered it much. Then in your last post you say it's been watered every 2 to 3 days. I'm a bit confused. Which is it?

      During very dry spells it should be given a large can of water about twice a week. David Austin says more often but roses are quite tough and they can manage with less, but it has been a very dry spring this year. Roses do go droopy when they are thirsty.
       
    • DevonDays

      DevonDays Apprentice Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 7, 2018
      Messages:
      13
      Gender:
      Male
      Ratings:
      +12
      Thank you and apologies for the confusion. I've not watered it much at all this spring up until about a couple of weeks ago when I noticed the yellowing leaves, and since then I've given it a watering can full every couple of days.

      I will keep it up and hope for the best!
       
    • Busy-Lizzie

      Busy-Lizzie Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 13, 2024
      Messages:
      2,191
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Norfolk and Dordogne, France
      Ratings:
      +8,371
      Don't go and overwater it! :)
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Obelix-Vendée

        Obelix-Vendée Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 13, 2024
        Messages:
        2,955
        Gender:
        Female
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Vendée, France.
        Ratings:
        +8,997
        I think @wiseowl may be able to help as he knows about roses.
         
        • Friendly Friendly x 1
        • wiseowl

          wiseowl Amicable and friendly Admin Staff Member

          Joined:
          Oct 29, 2006
          Messages:
          45,839
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Walking over rough terrain
          Location:
          On the northwest bank of the River Medway
          Ratings:
          +94,852
          Good morning @DevonDays my friend you seem to have almost answered your own questions .You have over watered and neglected your beautiful " Armada" Rose and you use the word "Special" twice ,it has limited airflow clear the overgrown mess around it I would personally remove the cane with the dead leaves on it a Rose is just the same as anything else if you don't look after it that in its self will lead to disease but it should be OK if you need anything else just ask we have quite a few knowledgable Rosarians on here at Gardeners Corner:smile:

          Bred by Harkness & Co (United Kingdom, 1988).
          Introduced in United Kingdom by R Harkness & Co. Ltd. as 'Armada'.
          Shrub.
          Pink, ages to lighter . Mild fragrance. 17 petals. Semi-double (9-16 petals), cluster-flowered, in large clusters bloom form. Blooms in flushes throughout the season.
          Spreading. Medium, glossy, medium green foliage.

          Height: 4' to 6' (120 to 185cm). Width: 30" to 4' (75 to 120cm).
          Produces decorative hips.

          New Dawn (large flowered climber, Dreer 1930) × Silver Jubilee ® (hybrid tea, Cocker before 1974)

          This rose has large clusters of semi-double clear rose pink flowers which give way to handsome hips in the autumn... it was named to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Spanish Armada...
          Armada is widely grown in Europe. It has large clusters of rich rose pink, semidouble flowers that hold their color well even in hot, humid conditions... the foliage is extremely disease resistant...

          52337.jpg
           
          • Like Like x 2
          • Agree Agree x 1
          • Mrs Hillard

            Mrs Hillard Super Gardener

            Joined:
            Feb 22, 2014
            Messages:
            271
            Location:
            East Anglia, England
            Ratings:
            +1,261
            @DevonDays
            Hello, and thanks for the alert, I've only just noticed as I've been away a bit.
            I'm delighted you remember me in some other place maybe, so I assume we've spoken before..

            'Armada' is such a brilliant rose as you said, and I've never seen that issue on it. Let me just say, as you've alluded to, I gave up 6X a long time ago, it's powerful stuff that needs careful use and easy to overdo it, which is part of the problem here, as you can see on some of the leaves, ..that is a cultivation issue. As others have said, remove all surrounding impediments, and my advice would be to treat yourself to a sequestered iron/seaweed mixture.. The one I like best is Maxicrop, I also use Vitax, I measure the right amount into 10 ltrs water and pour around an ailing rose. Unless your rose is planted in a bog, which of course it shouldn't be, then you shouldn't worry about overwatering at this time of year, they can be submerged with flooding and it doesn't hurt. In fact, if you have a hose you can sometimes flush through these issues with fertilizers by giving a deep watering.

            It also grows best with some support, then in June it should look like this one I had for years..
            DSC03751.JPG DSC03491.JPG

            I feel sure it will return to full health with some t.l.c. from you. I also avoid Epsom Salts. What I like to do after the water treatment, is mulch with a cheap multi purpose compost, quite thickly around the base. Works wonders. Best of luck !
             
            • Like Like x 5
            • Mrs Hillard

              Mrs Hillard Super Gardener

              Joined:
              Feb 22, 2014
              Messages:
              271
              Location:
              East Anglia, England
              Ratings:
              +1,261
              Still on this subject, I fed these two roses with Maxicrop sequestered iron with seaweed, just 2 weeks ago, they both suffer from chlorosis in my ph 8.1 highly alkaline soil. I usually use an Azalea feed in Spring but did not have any this year.
              I cannot prove it of course, but look at this basal growth.. it acts as a root stimulant..
              A climbing rose.. just what you want to see..
              IMG_6276.JPG
              ..a floribunda shrub.
              IMG_6278.JPG
               
              • Like Like x 7
              • DevonDays

                DevonDays Apprentice Gardener

                Joined:
                Mar 7, 2018
                Messages:
                13
                Gender:
                Male
                Ratings:
                +12
                Thank you very much @Mrs Hillard - You're right, I was an avid follower of your photographic posts on GardenersWorld and in fact that's what inspired me to buy Armada!

                Update since the weekend - having removed lots of the surrounding overgrowth including the sticky-weed, the encroaching laurel and a portion of a rapidly-expanding clump of Phlox there's a lot more space/light/airflow around Armada now. I also removed some of the wilting stems and was delighted to see strong new growth coming from lower down, so I'm confident that it's nothing terminal.

                Thanks for the heads-up on the 6X too, I think I need to go easy on that in the future! I'll buy myself some of the Maxicrop and hopefully learn my lessons...
                 
                • Like Like x 4
                Loading...

                Share This Page

                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                  Dismiss Notice