By Monjardinlra
Limousin,
France 
Rose dilemma: this unidentified rose, climbing on a parched south-facing wall, has been there so long its original "trunk" seems about 6 inches across. Every year the guy who cuts my grass chops it back wherever he sees it (!) despite all I can say (it has no adequate wall support these days, and he likes tidiness...). Every year it gets black spot (endemic in gardens here) and this year (see photos, v. poor ones I'm afraid) it also has a white-ish mildew? on the leaves... Yet every year I get a massive burst of flowers (usually in early June, everything is late this year). It only flowers once. Any idea (a) what it's called? (b) apart from vowing to try harder re the black spot and importing some wall ties to support it better (we don't seem to have them for sale here!), is there any TLC I could give it?
23 Jun, 2013
Answers
It's very pretty and looks lovely against that wonderful old wall. No idea of the name but I'd do all that Worthy says in order to preserve it, and give it a good mulch of well-rotted horse manure which I find works well for my roses. i should think your local garden centre would be able to advise on ties for it.
23 Jun, 2013
Will try to identify it. The mildew which is often on the buds as well is very difficult to eradicate. The rose will be better for being well fed and vigorous (mildew struggles on freshest new growth). There are no treatments available to the amateur to counter that sort of mildew, so good hygiene, and good feeding are the best tools. Re the blackspot and downy mildew (which looks like untidy blackspot), early spraying kept up regularly, are all you can do. Pick up and burn affected leaves.
23 Jun, 2013