Question
Hi, We have a Bit of a dilemma, my girlfriend is in a bit of a quandary as to why her precious Rose bushes are all showing signs of starting to perish but the odd thing is the are going from the top not the bottom, she asked at the Nursery and they said it could have been the secateurs when she pruned them, but that was done 8 months ago, wouldn't this have shown up before now and she is very pedantic about how she cleans it before and after use, so that doesn't seem possible to me.  She also has a problem with her privot hedge also dying off at the same time and she is getting rather larger holes in her back yard, the ground goes spongey then she has a hole that can be upto a half a metre deep we don't know if these are related to earthworks going on at the back of her or not do you have any suggestions for us.

Answer
Jenny:
Thanks for your inquiry. I agree that the shears/pruning are probably not the cause, unless the pruning was very severe.  Can you give me more detail of the appearance of the rose plant? How do the leaves look? color- does it have spots etc. Anything been sprayed on the plant?

I will probably need more detail for the privet as well. Again the appearance/color etc.

Thanks

Steve