Sudden Death of 'Mr. Lincoln' Rose: Gopher Damage Likely

Rapid Death = Root Destruction

A 1-year-old 'Mr. Lincoln' in Lake Elsinore, CA, died overnight—no gradual decline. Soil heavily amended, fed with Bayer rose food, watered evenings. Gophers/moles present; roses planted in chicken wire cages.

Diagnosis Steps

1. Pull the plant. If it comes out easily, check roots for chewing—gophers.
2. If roots intact and crown green, prune to highest green wood.
3. But "sudden death" points to gophers bypassing protection.

Fix

• Reinforce underground barriers (hardware cloth, not chicken wire).
• Verify watering: deep, infrequent, not daily evening sprinkles.

Gophers are the #1 cause of sudden rose death in California.