Hello,
I am suspecting that my Rosa ‘Pink Meidiland’ landscape roses have Rose Rosette Virus. My family has only lived at this property for a year so it is difficult to say if these plants have shown symptoms in the past, or if this is normal for them, or if it is a new infection. The plants are surrounded by deutzia and abelia, and I have noticed that there are several weeds present including garlic mustard and stilt grass. I am hoping the compounds from the garlic mustard can affect the plant and that the abnormal growth is not caused by RRD. I have sent photos to the Penn State Plant Clinic, which is my local extension service for identification and possible testing. I have many other garden roses in neighboring beds that I planted in the past year that I have not seen any symptoms from, and obviously do not want to become infected. What is the best insecticide to use as a home gardener? There are so many choices, and have never applied a systemic insecticide, and am not sure where to start. Bonus if it also kills ticks like the black legged deer tick as well as mites.
Thank you for your help!
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Welcome to the forum AKC, yes, your pink meidiland rose is infected with rose rosette disease. If you have not already done so, dig up this rose, put it in a large black plastic bag and let it sin in the sun for a week. Then discard. You can get some bifenthrin and spray all your roses. If you can afford it, the miticide Forbid is currently the best eriophyid mite killer. It won’t harm beneficial insects like bifenthrin. For more information go to www.roserosette.org.