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Saw fly damage to mature rose

B3B3 Posts: 26,433
in Plants
Ive just hacked back a clematis that was smothering my Arthur Bell climber. I have noticed that many of the older branches some over half an inch in diameter, have pretty bad sawfly damage. Will the rose be able to shake it off or should I remove the damaged branches? There wont be an awful lot left if I do😕
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,319
    Could you post a photo of the cane damage  B3?

    I had a major infestation of sawfly larvae/slugs for the first time this year (plant it and they will come). I picked off as many b*ggers as I could and removed the copious quantities of shredded leaves and the roses grew new ones. However, I have searched but couldn’t find any of those long scars described on the canes, which is a bit baffling.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • B3B3 Posts: 26,433
    Will do
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 26,433
    Here you go @Nollie
    A lot of it is too high up for me to reach 

    The middle out of focus one looks like old damage 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,319
    Great thanks B3, blimey, did they really do that?! Gives me a better idea of what to look for. Not actually helping you with your query tho, soz.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • B3B3 Posts: 26,433
    They're usually vertical but the two I managed to photograph were horizontal for some reason.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • OmoriOmori Posts: 1,673
    Here’s some typical sawfly damage:


    But on the damaged canes, it is still flowering well:



    On such old sturdy canes as yours as long as it is still performing well I would just leave it? But hopefully someone with more expertise can advise you if it’s better to remove. 
  • Jason-3Jason-3 Posts: 391
    That cane looks indicative of standard damage to me. Dependent of type you can spray sawfly larvae with soapy water. Any badly damaged canes can be cut back in late autumn. I don't think you have all that much to worry about
    If you are worried about infection you could treat with a tree/shrub seal. But that would be overkill imo
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,319
    I am going to have to look harder 🔎  haven’t seen any damage like any of the photos, but the blighters came from somewhere... 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Jason-3Jason-3 Posts: 391
    They can be hard to spot, as looks as the damage looks similar to when canes have been rubbing together.... This is from olivia Austin which has been blighted this year... 

  • B3B3 Posts: 26,433
    I'm now inclined to leave it too. I just panicked when I saw what was lurking under the clematis!
    Thanks all 😊

    In London. Keen but lazy.
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