Knock out Roses and Rose Rosette Disease

This information arrived in my mailbox today. It contains important information about the popular Knock Out Roses: 

Also see this post http://www.tipsforgardeningonline.com/2013/01/warning-for-all-rose-gardens.html

 KNOCK OUT ROSES - GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS 

 Symptoms of Rose Rosette - red deformed new growth and dramatically deformed thorns.

The original Knock Out Rose was created by Wisconsin rose breeder William Radler and introduced in 2000 by The Conard-Pyle Co./Star Roses. It is cold tolerant to zone 5, heat tolerant throughout the U.S., reliably resistant to disease and produces lots of blooms every 5 to 6 weeks from spring until the first hard frost.   

All that sounds good, but not so fast. The Knock Out Rose seems to be one of the main targets of a viral-like disease called "rose rosette". The fact that so many of the once thought carefree rose have been planted is a major part of the problem. Virtual monocultures have been planted in many parts of the country, especially the south.

The solution is two fold:

1) Stop planting so many of this variety and add some biodiversity to your rose planting.

2) Apply the procedure called the Sick Tree Treatment. It is explained in detail under Guides on the home page of DirtDoctor.com and also in a past newsletter found in the Natural Organic Library of DirtDoctor.com.

The basics of the procedure are as follows:   

• Prune off the diseased and deformed growth. Spritz-spray the cuts and tools between cuts with 3% hydrogen peroxide.
•  Aerate the root zone and apply the organic bed preparation amendments.
•  Remove soil and mulch from trunk flares of bushes.
•  Mulch bare soil away from trunks with shredded native tree trimmings.
•  Spray plants and beds with Garrett Juice with 16 ounces of hydrogen peroxide added per gallon of mix. 16 ounces less water can be used per gallon.
•  Go organic and especially eliminate the synthetic fertilizers.  

If you haven't already, join me Sunday 8-11am CST and check this page - Radio Stations - on DirtDoctor.com for locations coast to coast and border to border. You can also listen on the internet or to past shows. The phone number for the show is 1-866-444-3478.

Please share this newsletter with everyone in your address book and all of your friends on Facebook and Twitter to help me spread the word on organics.

Naturally yours, Howard Garrett