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Rocky Mountain Gardening

rose problems

15 years ago

Hello! I've been looking in on this website for the last several years and have enjoyed it so very much, it is a great resource!! I have taken much advise and diagnosed previous problems through browsing former posts. Thank you all for such a wealth of knowledge!!

I have two issues. One is my Gertrude Jekyll, she was beautiful and healthy last week and now leaf cutter bees have gotten to her. I have seen evidence of them before, but not nearly this much. Also most of my unopened buds are yellowing and flopping over. I will try to post pics.

Also my JFK has some darkness in one it's shoots and I'm not sure if it is normal or canker. Other than that area, it looks healthy.

Last one, I recently discovered a few (about 5, on 2 separate occasions) rose weevils lurking in a couple of my roses (Gertrude being one of them). I've dug around the crown under the mulch to look for grubs or larvae and see none. Could these little destroyers be wondering into my roses or are they positively living and breeding in my beds? I did dispose of the few adults I have found, and only very little evidence of them dining on my roses.

I'll have to research on how to post pictures, I will follow up with them...:-(

Any advise or thoughts would be soooo appreciated!!! Thanks!

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Comments (3)

ianb_co
15 years ago
As to the weevils (aka rose curculio) you've seen and the damage to your rose buds, it sounds like they may be one and the same. I'm experiencing the same damage to my konigin von danemark (I think) rose, and I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down to the curculio, though I've not actually seen any on my roses.

Below are some photos closely resembling the damage to my roses. Lots of tiny holes drilled in the bud, some browned and misshapen sections of damaged roses that do open, and the yellowing/flopping buds also have holes at the base of the bud.

Only the KvD seems affected; the Harison's Yellow next to it seems fine. Perhaps because the Harison's bloomed a little earlier. About 40% of the KvD blooms are affected to one extent or another.

The advice I've seen is to try to interrupt their reproduction cycle. Only one generation grows per year; the eggs are laid in the buds, which drop to the ground, where the grubs overwinter. (I guess explaining why you don't see any grubs now). If you see the weevils, you can pick them off one by one and hold a cup underneath to catch them as they drop. Deadhead the buds and toss them in the trash. Hopefully, next year they won't be so bad, and if so you can move up to insecticides.

As for your other issues, I have no clue! But I think with your dark shoot, I'd probably follow the 'if in doubt, cut it out' rule of thumb.

Ian

Here is a link that might be useful: curculio damage
nicole__
15 years ago
If you like all natural remedies? then spray your roses with Neem oil(available at garden centers, it comes as a concentrate, mix it with water). It smells like citrus and repels bugs. :0)
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roselover99
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for your advice. I think you are right about the curculios. I've also spotted some thrips. I just did my second round of Bayer 2 in 1 which the local florist said would take care of them. I've only seen a few every now and then, pick them off and smoosh them. They sure do try to get away though. I might give the Neem oil a try. In the mean time I am pruning the spent blooms as well.

Happy gardening!!!

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