I would not remove old growth if it has live bud eyes and shoots growing from it. The bud eyes are small reddish swellings on the canes. Removing the dead wood is beneficial. The bud union is at the base of the plant, where the budded variety is grafted onto the rootstock. Your rose might be grafted, or own root. I would not remove suckers from the area unless you are sure that the suckers are not from your rugosa. Return in early summer to see if the suckers bloom, and compare the foliage and canes to see if the suckers resemble your rugosa. Many of the Cemetery Roses that I visit are in the 50-100 year old range, based upon the age of the headstones, and suckering of the mother plant is common to see. The Cemetery Roses get blackspot, as do garden roses in the area, this is not a concern. If grass or weeds are growing right up to the base of the rose, careful weeding to remove the weeds would be helpful. Some organic fertilizer once or twice a year would be beneficial. If the soil is compact, light raking with a hand rake will help to aerate it. Raking should be done carefully to avoid damaging roots on the surface.

I've never seen stem girdler damage -- yet. I have a large black raspberry bed next to several of my rugosas. Sooner or later my rugosas will probably get hit too. Your posts have me thinking someday when I find the proper space for it I'll have to get Polareis...

My climate is not anything like yours (I live in eastern Washington) but I have had good luck with old fashioned shrub roses (mainly once blooming) and some hybrid musks and polyanthas (repeat blooming). I do have two yellow knock out roses (from Lowe's sale) with pink edges...and they fade to an ivory as they age. They're very pretty and I really like them. I think they look great, mixed in with lavender and pink perennials...and maybe cosmos and stock (annuals). Celsiana is one of my favorite old fashioned shrub roses. It's a damask and it blooms for a long time...four to six weeks. Here's a picture (not mine) that inspired me to get Celsiana. From Lavender's Garden Echo (Baby Tausendschon) from Rogue Valley Roses is a pretty little rose, too. I don't know how it is with humid conditions, but it does very well, in my garden. This is my picture :) From Lavender's Garden

Claire that's very pretty tree. I always wanted a sorbus (mtn ash) but would need the columnar upright one in my small yard. Not much blooming in my yard, but I did see a few pansy's still blooming and some snapdragons. I think the honey suckle vine might have the odd bloom as well. Actually, as more trees/shrubs lose their leaves, I am inpressed with things that hold onto their leaves such as clematis. Because it's been a longer than usual fall, things like my apple tree have turned a brillant yellow leaves as well (some years the green leaves freeze on the tree if winter hits early.)