If you're talking about root knot nematodes, then you probably live in Florida. You can continue to grow your roses in containers without fearing nematode damage as long as you make sure none of your garden soil ever gets into those containers. For planting in the ground, you'll need roses grafted onto Fortuniana rootstock. The nematodes are a terrible problem for roses in Florida, and they especially love own-root roses. Own-root roses probably will die the first year they're in the ground. Roses grafted onto Dr. Huey will live three years or so. Roses grafted onto Fortuniana will live in the ground virtually forever without any problem. The beautiful plants you see in the neighborhoods probably are grafted onto Fortuniana rootstock.
