Rose tree leaves...

[Bbbananas]

Through the spring these have grown fantastically - lots of height, bushed out, green leaves, hardly any fly so far. All of a sudden some of the leaves have turned very quickly yellow and drop off easily. I did spray them a couple of weeks ago, but didn't over do it. I did put bark chippings round the bases a week ago but thought this was good for them. Is it a case of the warm weather drying the ground out (heavy clay soil) and they need more watering? Do they need a good feed?

They are different types of rose - some climbers, some bush etc.
Thanks for your advice, anyone.

[Hawkwalk]

yes, drying out would cause it. Heavy clay is not ideal for roses.

[tamborine]

dont think the bark chippings help as they would absorb moisture from the earth. Remove the chippings & put stones at base of roses to retain moisture.

[Hawkwalk]

bark chippings wont absorb moisture and do act as a good mulch keeping moisture in and keeping weeds down.

[carlton23]

A good feed of tomato feed will perk them up.

[Bbbananas]

Thanks guys & gals - will keep the bark (there is pea shingle underneath the bark - last year's efforts at keeping the weeds out but it didn't work because I hadn't put a layer of plastic or whatever under the shingle.....)

tomato feed? Good idea - I shall go to Homebase forthwith.....
Heavy clay is probably not ideal hawk, but in the past they have done tremendously well, considering.