What's eating my paul's himalayan musk rose?

Paul's Himalayan Musk is a very large, vigorous rambler and is generally robust, but aphids exploit its prolific new shoots in spring and sawfly larvae can cause patchy defoliation. Its once-yearly bloom window means aphid pressure at bud-burst is the primary threat. Rabbits may gnaw young base stems in new plantings.

Colonies on extending young canes and bud trusses; honeydew drips onto lower foliage and furniture beneath the plant. Natural predators (ladybirds, hoverflies) usually provide good control on large ramblers; use insecticidal soap spray on accessible sections if needed.

Window-paned leaflets and skeletonised patches across the lower canopy; larvae in loose clusters on leaf undersides. Hand-pick where reachable; spinosad or pyrethrin spray on affected sections in the evening.

Clean diagonal cuts on young base stems and bark stripping on young canes at ground level. Protect base stems with wire mesh guards to 60 cm height; remove once the plant is established and base stems have hardened.