Hi All,

I have an inherited Rose...not sure of type or variety but growing as a 5ft plant with upright. slender bush habit. Produces deep red blooms in season.

It was looking very sickly with yellowing, drooping leaves. I decided to prune it hard back the other evening and I noticed that several of the stems have brown cores and also I tget the feeling that the other stems are a little more fibrous in the centre than usual.

I can't find any reference to what this problem might be. The rose has performed well over the last few seasons. The base of the plant has become surrounded by Day-Lily foliage but I can't see that this would be the entire cause of the problem.

The rose hasn't been sprayed or fed this season. I just gave it some epsom salts at the base a week or so ago but the yellowing was already evident then. We garden on a sandy loam in Herts. with some chalk in the area. The rose is in an exposed spot in the garden.

Any help or advice very welcome...i'm fearful we may lose this rose.

Thanks
David