I got this climbing rose about a year ago and planted it next to the house. The poor thing has had a tough time. First a nasty vole chewed on it's roots a couple of times. Try as I might, I couldn't get rid of the vole. I thought I was rid of the vole because there were no signs of it once spring came around, but then I saw what looked like a distinct vole hole next to the rose. So I did some rearranging of plants. Some of the ornamental plants I had in cedar planters didn't survive the winter, so I had some room. I moved the rose out of the ground and into a cedar planter filled with potting soil and next to the arch I made. It seems to like it there ok, but I wonder what chewed on it's leaves. They were like that before I moved it.

Slugs or snails, perhaps?

porkpal said:Slugs or snails, perhaps?

No signs of slime trails, maybe I should look closer? I'm not used to them being so small that their slime trails wouldn't be noticeable. We haven't been bothered by slugs much.

Looks like old damage to me, Greg. The newer leaves up high have no holes. I think the culprit has probably flown the coop. If it was slugs or snails, the trails don't last that long especially in rainy weather. (it doesn't rain where you are, right? )

If you start noticing holes again, try going out at night with a flashlight, and look on the undersides as well as the tops of the leaves. I had a type of weevil here that did that kind of damage to my Knockout roses. I don't think you have them up there but could be something similar. The wily little beggars hid on the undersides of the leaves during the day and then came out and dined on the leaves during the night. So I made it an entertainment to go out with a flashlight at night and pick them off the plants by hand. Worked well. I just dropped them in a cup of soapy water, or on a paver and stepped on them. Didn't want to drop them on the ground, though, because they are diggers and lay their eggs in the ground, so if you drop them there they quickly disappear.

If it's not leaf-chewing weevils, you will also see slugs and snails at night.

dyzzypyxxy said:Looks like old damage to me, Greg. The newer leaves up high have no holes. I think the culprit has probably flown the coop. If it was slugs or snails, the trails don't last that long especially in rainy weather. (it doesn't rain where you are, right? )

If you start noticing holes again, try going out at night with a flashlight, and look on the undersides as well as the tops of the leaves. I had a type of weevil here that did that kind of damage to my Knockout roses. I don't think you have them up there but could be something similar. The wily little beggars hid on the undersides of the leaves during the day and then came out and dined on the leaves during the night. So I made it an entertainment to go out with a flashlight at night and pick them off the plants by hand. Worked well. I just dropped them in a cup of soapy water, or on a paver and stepped on them. Didn't want to drop them on the ground, though, because they are diggers and lay their eggs in the ground, so if you drop them there they quickly disappear.

If it's not leaf-chewing weevils, you will also see slugs and snails at night.

I'm afraid of the dark! Just kidding. That would be the next step in confirming my new-found hobby, going out at night to check on the plants. Problem is, my wife and I have to get up so early that it's not quite dark yet when we go to bed. But now that the solstice is behind us, that will change gradually.