Roses Forum
22,795 Garden Web Discussions | Roses
In agreement that it looks like a herbicide problem. But to get that much herbicide into a plant so that the damage is that widespread.....wouldn't that much herbicide be a real herbicide and kill at least some of the rose?
I don't think I've ever seen that much herbicide damage on a single rose. I have seen roses killed by herbicide.
But whatever this is, it happened after first leaf growth this spring. And that argues for herbicide because RRD doesn't go systemic this fast on any rose class that I've seen (and I have seen RRD on most classes).
Any idea what the name of the rose is?
At one time I had four Frederick Mistrals. Three were bought and one was an accidental rooting of a cane that came in contact with the soil. The accidental Frederick soon reached the size of the other three.
All bloomed well in the spring summer and fall.
I lost two to vole damage, and one to poison ivy (digging out the PI, the roots were damaged and it frittered away.) The fourth was growing well when late spring freezes did major damage to new growth.
My soil isn't great, and drains perhaps too well on a hillside.
I can't suggest why yours hasn't bloomed; the only rose that ever happened with for me was the Austin rose The Pilgrim and it did fine in year two.
Rose midge can do this, but this little fly can't fly very far--perhaps 150 feet, so it needs to come into a garden via an infected plant--it doesn't fly into the typical garden. But, it is hard to tell from a photograph because the clues are so tiny. The aborted new growth typically turns black, and leaves traces of dead black tissue. If you look at the base of plant stunted by rose midge, you will typically see a couple of aborted canes, perhaps 1/4" to an inch long, that were attacked by midge before they could attain any meaningful size. You may also see emerging buds with bits of black that won't grow--these have also been attacked by midge and won't grow--you need to prune below buds infected by midge if you expect to see more new growth, though there are a few vigorous roses that will start new growth from low buds on the cane of a midge infected rose.
The tiny maggots (1/16") need to drop to the soil and pupate before turning into tiny flies--you should be able to interrupt the life cycle by making a barrier that prevents the maggots from reaching the soil.
This page has pictures of midge and the damage they do
My "Bermuda Spice" takes no pauses from late Spring until hard frost. Yes, every single day there are blooms on it. During the hottest part of Summer they are smaller and whiter, but still there.
:-)
~Christopher
Thanks so much for these details. I think there are a few roses of mine that I should be tougher on with the pruners because of limited space. As far as Evelyn is concerned, I'm going to think on your method for a while. What you're doing seems very daring to me (but successful), and you certainly have a way with shaping the canes to produce beautiful displays. Keep those gorgeous photos coming, and thanks again. Diane
Same as fragrancenutter. The twine allows you to direct the laterals where you want them to go. Over time the weather breaks the twine down for easy removal. The electrical cable, being copper, holds up forever.
I pick up a small spool of Black #14 solid single strand house wiring from Home Depot.
(500 ft. 14-Gauge Solid THHN Wire - Black)
One nice thing about the wire is that you can bend it such that you can insert it on one side of the bush and have it curve around back to you as you feed it through the bush. Pruning shears cut it with ease.
By the way, I think the title of your post would make a really nice name for a rose, WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. Congrats.
How wonderful. Happy Anniverasy, Beth.