by Nanette Londeree, Master Rosarian
SIGNS
- Rounded light green to light tan growths on roots or bud union
- Irregularly shaped, rough, woody-looking dark-colored masses on stems near soil line or just below the surface
SYMPTOMS
- Stunted growth – very small leaves with few flowers buds
- Young plants with slow growth or that fail to grow at all
OPTIMAL CONDITIONS / HABITAT
- Plants grown in infected soil
- Warm, sunny weather; it is not active in cold weather
- Can persist in the soil in a dormant state for years
- Variety of other host plants including apples, raspberries, honeysuckle, euonymus and many vegetables
TREATMENT
Prevention:
- Maintain good garden sanitation and cultural practices
- Purchase plants from high quality suppliers
- Inspect new plants thoroughly before adding to your garden
- Avoid injury to canes and stems when planting or cultivating
Elimination:
- Cut out galls using a sharp knife or pruning shears and destroy them; disinfect blades with a bleach solution after each cut
- If heavily infected, remove and discard the plant
- Replace soil where rose was growing with new soil, and don’t grow another rose or susceptible plant where the rose was removed
- There is no known chemical treatment for this disease
GOOD GUY / BAD GUY?
Mostly a nuisance – generally not a big problem for most roses; though if a rose is infected it may cause the ultimate demise of the plant
Photos of Spring Dwarf are by Baldo Villegas