Question
Hello Lynnette, I have a climbing rose bush (small rose buds) sorry not sure what kind) that has developed some cracked dry brown lumps around the stalks. They are about 1.5 inches in diameter in various areas. Is this a fungus? or bugs? One bush appears to be totally dead and one branch of the neighboring bush is affected. IS there anything i can do to protect my remaining bush? Thanks Sandy

Answer
Sounds a lot like rose galls. These are roundish, corky looking growths that are filled with bacterial and will in time, kill the rose. It is best to dig the plant out and replace them. But before planting a new rose bush, dig out the soil from the old hole and replace it with new as some bacteria may still be in the soil. Best to burn the rose bushes so it won't spread.