I have the occasional whim to add a rose here and there to my garden (all are grown in pots). But I am not a rose collector, just a gardener that has maybe 10 different roses throughout my yard.
Well, I was potting up a few roses today and noticed a stem on one of them that had a LOT of thorns. I thought that was weird, but didn't think anything more about it. Then I read your article, Neal. Oh dear! (BIG sigh) It appears that I have RRD on my roses. Where did it come from? Most likely from the two Knock-out Roses I have had for years. Looking at them both now, I can see the symptoms. So I will have to destroy my Cinco de Mayo (which had the odd thorny stem), both Knock-our roses, and perhaps the other 7 roses I have.
Does it typically affect roses growing in various locations in a yard?
Can the mites live for any length of time without a rose host?
And how long should I wait before adding any more roses or should I just forget about roses now that I have RRD?
Four of my roses are huge climbing roses going up two different arbors. Those 4 will be a huge loss for me if I discover that they are infected, too.
You know ... with all the diseases that plants are prone to these days ... it sure is a challenge to be a successful gardener.
