Q: Is this rusty, splitting trunk on a Lady Banks rose normal? I do not want to lose this beautiful plant! It is about 12 years old and covers our swing arbor.

A: Rose expert Ryan Tilley (http://www.rosegardensbyryan.com) says older, woody canes often do strange things like splitting or even having holes in the canes. If your rose is growing and blooming well, I would not worry about it. If the growth is not good off of that cane, prune it out and let new canes grow in its place.

on the arbor

on the arbor