Rose Beads ... uh... Rose Rosette Disease in Texas!
disease is contracted, the rose will die - possibly within that year, possibly the next. Seldom does the rose live more than three years, and at that, will gradually but markedly decline during the period. Frequently, infected roses will succumb to winter kill.
The rosarian who confirms the disease has infected his or her garden should dig up the rose and destroy it. They should not compost the remains. Instead, they should cut up the rose into manageable pieces, encase it in a plastic trash bag, spray the pieces inside the bag with a miticide, and send it to the landfill.
Rosarians should also pay particular attention to mite control in the garden, especially on roses in close proximity to the infected rose's former location. The reader who called me yesterday quite probably lost her 'Zéphirine Drouhin' because it was in contact with an unknown, but infested, Polyantha... or vice versa.
And, although there is only anecdotal evidence that this viral disease can be passed along via pruning equipment, it's a wise idea for gardeners to sterilize their pruning shears, loppers and digging tools once they have completed these chores. It is also a wise idea to sterilize their shears during normal pruning routines until such time as they determine rose rosette disease is no longer a threat in their garden.
A good sterilizing solution is to mix up four ounces of chlorine bleach per quart of water, dipping the business end of the pruners into the solution. This will discolor the metal portions of the pruners. The discoloration can be removed by using a soap-impregnated, steel wool scouring pad (such as SOS™ or Brillo™), then reapplying a coat of light, household oil to the metal parts.
Announcer: Thanks for the update, Mark! We now return you to your regularly schedule article, already in progress.
... So come back next time for the continuation of our discussion on how to make rose beads! See ya then!
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