Katyajini, where are you located? First, let me commend your keen observations, both last year and this year. I wish everyone were as attentive as you are.

Second, your rose is exhibiting some telltale signs of RRD: hyper thorniness, broom-like and red new growth, kind of everything on overdrive on that particular cane, and RRD often does hit a section at a time at first. The fact that you spotted the same symptoms in the same place last year would indicate that this is not herbicide damage.

Ann from TN is my RRD goddess on the forum. Others who reside in high RRD areas are also brilliant at positive diagnoses. If this were my rose, I'm guessing that I'd soon be removing it, bagging it and disposing of it in the trash. Using hairspray on an infected rose to blanket any mites prior to removal has also been recommended. With that said, if this were my rose, I start another post with the same carefully detailed photos you posted here, but I'd title it: "Is this RRD? Please help." Ann and others usually spot RRD in a forum title.

Now take a deep breath. Even if this is RRD, it won't be the end of the world, and there are lots of members on the forum dealing with RRD who have lovely gardens and lovely roses thriving in their gardens. You just need some answers from the experts here so that you can deal with the situation and learn what to watch for in the future.

We're all here for you! Sending a shoulder across the internet--Carol

Carol, thank you!!!! I am starting a new post.