Have you every heard of Rose Rosette? For the last several years we have been bombarded with folks bringing in samples of diseased roses. They all have Rose Rosette. This is a virus that is spread by an Eriophyid mite. There is no cure for this disease. If you have an infected rose remove it along with all of its root system. Can you combat this mite? That depends on who you talk to. Using a miticide, whether all-natural or not, will affect the entire ecosystem as well as having little effect on the Eriophyid mite.
Symptoms and onset of rose rosette can look much like herbicide damage, but its effect soon becomes much more dramatic. Infected canes will sprout thick clusters (rosettes) of stubby, soft and brittle stems with elongated leaflets, a growth pattern commonly referred to as “witch’s broom.” On most types of roses these abnormal growths will have a distinctive burgundy-red pigmentation. The stems are usually very prickly, and the prickles tend to be soft and rubbery.
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