Question
Please help.  I had a beautiful climbing rose which has been attacked  (holes in leaves leading to subsequent loss of leaves).  Is there anything I can do to save this plant.  I am a complete novice but planted this a year before my mother died now I fear I have lost it.

Answer
You haven't lost the rose, it takes much more than loss of leaves to kill it. There are caterpillars or a sucking insect on your rose so any insecticide ( organic is okay) following the directions on the package, will solve your problem. Roses also like to have cool roots and do much better when they have them. So any type of mulch spread 6 inches thick all around the base makes them grow much better. Use a slow release type fertilizer as roses like to continually munch on nutrients not take them in as a large gulp and this is how most non slow release their chemicals.
Give your climber 5 gallons of water every five days, more if it gets really hot. 5 gallons is a bucket of water. With a hose, I have found that singlng happy birthday slowly twice gives a plant 5 gallons of water.
Hope this helps. Lynnette