Just saying “rose rosette disease” is enough to make any experience rose gardener shudder. Rose rosette disease is a virus that is spread by eriophyid mites. It was first reported in 1941 and has been a problem for gardeners ever since. Plants with rose rosette disease will have bright red deformed stems and leaves with excessive thorns. Once your plant shows symptoms of rose rosette disease, there isn’t much you can do to save it.
There isn’t much you can do once your plant has rose rosette disease, but you can help prevent it by:
Report your case. If you ever have rose rosette disease, report your case by sending pictures and information to researchers studying the spread.
Do not replant. Allow a few seasons before planting a new rose in the same area as an infected plant, even after it is removed. The virus can’t live in the soil, but it can live in any living root tissue still present in the soil.
Prune your roses. Mites overwinter in flower buds, so pruning your roses and disposing of any material will eliminate some mites.
Space your plants. Planting roses close together only helps the spread of mites from plant to plant.
Protect your roses from wind. Mites are easily spread in the wind. Plant your roses in an area protected from prevailing winds and avoid using leaf blowers near your roses.
Unfortunately, there are no varieties of roses on the market that are resistant to rose rosette disease. Breeders and researchers are working on it, which is why reporting your cases is so important!