Question
we planted a rose bush last year, and it did ok for it's first year. this year however, something is completely stripping off leaves and i have entirely bare stems in spots. new leaves try and come out but eventually get eaten. the roses do bud, but they are kind of curly and misshapen, with some brown on the petal edges. i have looked all through your list and haven't found anything similar. my leaves aren't lacy or full of holes. they are gone! any idea what is causing this? i have sprayed for insects once a month. but it is only getting worse as time goes on. thank you.

Answer
Animals such as deer, rabbits and squirrel eat rose leaves  right off. Caterpillars also do a lot of damage but they usually leave a few leaves with parts eaten. If you get Japanese beetle in your area, they too can eat a lot overnight. Many insects hide in the soil at the base of the rose bush when they have finished eating. If you are using a spray for caterpillars as well as beetles, then spray well around the base right to the limit as some bugs will fall off the bush onto the ground and then dig in. If you are seeing the damage in the morning then the work is done at night. If possible, take a flashlight and go out when it is dark to see if you can locate and identify them.
The rose buds have a different problem as there is an insect called a thrip which could be eating the flower buds and so will damage the flower. Insects repeat very quickly and 100 can be born in no time. Once a month spraying to me doesn't seem enough to make sure the new generation is dealt with. However if that is what the instructions are on the spray then they are correct.