Question
The leaves on my rose bush are turning yellow and getting holes.  Is this an indication of insects or too much water?

Answer
Hi Diane-

One way to tell if a rose is getting too much water is the two-knuckle rule.  Stick your finger in the dirt down to two knuckles - if the dirt is moist or wet - you don't need to water, and vice versa if the dirt is dry then you need to water.

If the leaves have holes - usually this is an indication of insects.  I would use a fungicide once weekly to see if this helps.

Yellow leaves could indicate the rose bush may not be getting adequate fertilizer.  You might want to consider fertilizing the rose to see if the leaves turn green.  If the leaves are yellow with blackspots - then you should use a fungicide and apply once a week.

Good luck-

Carlene