Most potted roses were at some time in the process, bare root shoveled out plants usually in the most careless way. Detailed care is very costly , under conventional labor, it requires skill and patience, both long term abilities that very large scale companies are unwilling to pay for. So mechanized methods are the alternative... . Why do the nurseries pot them right away,? Not only to reduce in nursery losses but also to get to"look" right as quick as possible and get them off onto the exhibition bench and get them sold as fast as they can. All part of the very stressing and stressful market machinery... Canker can easily develop under these conditions. The canes get their vessels clogged. No longer the phloem operates and canker producing fungi or bacteria get inside the bruised area and that is how canker develops.
One reads statements saying " roses are survivors" "roses are tough" so unexperienced gardeners pay no heed to high care recommendations like those explained by @RoseBlush1 Lyn. At home, detailed care can be given, because after all one it the first to benefit from a well growing/ grown rose. Discarding incoming potting soil initially is VERY good practise! Inspecting carefully newcomers is also VERY good practise. Disinfecting everything, both the roots and the top is VERY good practise. Of course there will be those that might shrug off high care recommendations suggesting that it is just too fussy...well I simply that and make sure my bushes start as best as I know from the very day 1. ....I've learn't this the hard way....
Arturo

@reh0622, Rosemary ...

After I signed off last night, it hit me ... you are not talking about growing new bare root roses, but you are talking about growing "body bag" roses.

Body bag roses (whoever came up with that name was brilliant ) are the culls-of-the-culls from the rose harvest. Whatever roots they may have had, are further butchered to fit the packaging. When you buy a body bag rose, you are buying a rose that is more dead than alive and needs special care to "rescue" it.

You've done a lot of things right to "rescue" these roses, but there is more you can do. If you are interested, please send me a t-mail and I'll go into further detail.

Body-bag roses--that's a name I'm not going to forget! I guess I'm lucky so many survived and have done well with the exception of this year. I found the suggestion of soaking in 10% bleach interesting...and I'm sure I have more to learn!

fisherwoman said:Think I better get a fungicide fast. Any idea of one that works the best ?
It wasn't so scary when the affected part was near the top and I could cut it off, but I see Evelyn has a big dark spot near the bottom. I'm trying not to feel too discouraged , it's another storm of life.

I use Serenade, Sonata, Oxidate and Actinovate.
All work well .

I am losing another one to canker that I bought "body-bag" from Lowe's--Miss All American Beauty. I think that brings the count to 8. And Cl. Joseph's Coat, America, and Old Timer don't look so great. I read yesterday that you need to make a cut a whole 5" below the canker. That would eliminate all of these, I think, and even another I'm keeping my eye on. I will definitely have an eagle eye out for any I may be tempted to purchase in the future from box stores (and follow Lyn's disinfecting advice), but may save myself the trouble and just order from Regan Nursery in the SF Bay Area if I buy bareroot. I am really happy with Francis Meilland that I purchased from them.

Rosemary - I lost some of my bareroots to canker, too. Francis Meilland is a rose I've considered getting quite a few times. I just haven't pulled the trigger.

reh0622 said:I am losing another one to canker that I bought "body-bag" from Lowe's--Miss All American Beauty. I think that brings the count to 8. And Cl. Joseph's Coat, America, and Old Timer don't look so great. I read yesterday that you need to make a cut a whole 5" below the canker. That would eliminate all of these, I think, and even another I'm keeping my eye on. I will definitely have an eagle eye out for any I may be tempted to purchase in the future from box stores (and follow Lyn's disinfecting advice), but may save myself the trouble and just order from Regan Nursery in the SF Bay Area if I buy bareroot. I am really happy with Francis Meilland that I purchased from them.

Well, well, well., my Miss All-American Beauty Rose has had a resurrection, but I don't know if it is lasting!

Meanwhile, my Francis Meilland from Regan Nursery looks much more ominous. I don't know how it could have been infected, except through innocent deadheading from other bushes that could have it without disinfecting the pruning shears between bushes at least, since I used all new potting soil The crown gall is growing, and the canker is more noticeable and is all at the bottom around the bud union, with the canes not showing noticeable canker. Regan says they guarantee their bushes for the first three months after planting.

Photos to follow....

Unfortunately, my ph. isn't letting me access this site...maybe later!

reh0622 said:

The crown gall is growing, and the canker is more noticeable and is all at the bottom around the bud union, with the canes not showing noticeable canker. Regan says they guarantee their bushes for the first three months after planting.

Rosemary ...

crown gall bacteria has been in the soil of the growing fields for decades. You may even have the bacteria in your own soil. It's everywhere.

I would almost bet every single rose sold since the 1950s have had / has crown gall and have done just fine.

I have two roses where I have actually seen the crown gall at the base of the rose. I spotted it five years ago. So far, both roses have remained vigorous and productive.

I am not saying you don't have to worry about it. Some roses are more susceptible and go down hill fast, but I am saying it's not always a disaster.

Thanks, Lyn, good to know.

Thank you, Lyn. I find such a difference of opinions among Rose book authors and rose gardeners!

Now for my pic today of Miss America Beauty Rose which a couple of months ago I thought was completely dead due to canker:

After reading this thread, I think my Simply Magnifiscent rose also has canker, but it has produced flowers on the non canker side.