Did you have them tested? Not all 'Witches Broom' is caused by RD. Cutting them back in the winter is very effective because the mites live in the upper portion of the leaf axils.
Just because everyone in YOUR yard got it does not mean it is more prone. The experts already said they are NOT more prone.
Hard pruning in winter is now considered good agricultural practice and it will prevent it. Anyone who loves roses is not going to accept this as a death sentence.
quote from greenhouse grower.com:
“Good cultural practices are essential and will go a long way in reducing the incidence of this disease,” Dobres says. “The most practical recommendation is for both growers and landscapers to do a heavy prune of dormant ornamental roses during late winter just before new growth appears. If growers and landscapers remove the upper portion of ornamental roses where eriophyid mites can be found in the leaf axils, it will significantly reduce the disease pressure on the plants.”
http://www.greenhousegrower.co...
