On the roots!! Sounds a bit strange, if it's a fungus maybe you could try the blackspot treatment, lime-sulphur. It's available at supermarket garden departments and nurseries, just follow the directions on the label.

Do you have violets? They have big round purple seed heads at the moment that sit right under the plants.

Not that I know of... and these were certainly right on the roots of the roses, and didn't seem to contain any seed-like objects - all jelly, squishy, etc.

Are they smooth or rough? If they are rough they could be root gall.
Dee.

Could it be nematodes?

They were rough I think... will look into root gall...

As for nematodes, excuse my ignorance, but aren't nematodes worms (they were in my invertebrate biology days heh)? What would they have to do with it?

Did a google image search on root gall, and the best image I found ( http://www.arc.agric.za/institutes/infruit/main/divisions/disease/images/d1117a_root4.jpg ) doesn't look like it... they actually looked like little purple speckled easter eggs, soft and squishy...

I've done a crappy little drawing in Paint of kinda what they looked like - the outer sectors were filled with a clear tan jelly, and the inner segments were pink, with this dark (darker than the colour I used) puckered centre.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2113101}}

Sorry, that above link REALLY doesn't want to work... just copy/paste http://thylacine.customer.netspace.net.au/egg.JPG

Hi again,

I am starting to think that what your roses have is called root knot nematodes. The juvenile nematodes burrow into the roots and travel around inside. The galls are formed as a result of this invasion.

What you have found, I believe, is the egg sacs. They are slightly oval shape and contain hundreds of eggs in a gelatinous substance.

There may be products available to get rid of these..ask at your nursery. I wouldn't plant anything else in that bed in the meantime. I would also treat the area that you have moved the roses to. Put any you find in a plastic bag and seal it tight and dispose of it.

A natural approach to the control of these nematodes is to mass plant french marigolds in the affected areas. They exude a natural chemical that affects the nematodes.

Cheers,
Dee.

Thanks for the reply Dee! I'll send the info off to mum - she's in a better position (ie her place is 3 hours away) to keep an eye on them, look further into it, etc.

You can also buy a pesticide called Nemacur but be very careful using it. It's right up there with dieldrin and other soil-based pesticides that hang around longer than they're welcome to.

I've also heard that marigolds help - Dee is right.

One or two kinds of rose root stocks are also nematode resistant - especially Manetti, if I recall correctly. If all else fails you could order your roses from nurseries that sometimes use that stock (eg Treloar) and be specific.

Great! Will do, thanks for that...

I have heard that the bush marrigold Tagetes lemonii is the best nemotode deterrant - some people call it Stinking Rodger but I grow it for its lovely fruity perfumed foliage and masses of gold single flowers in the warmer months.
Use the internet to research organic cures for nemotodes. I believe that sugar and molasses are also used and applied directly to the soil.
I think that WA's rootstock - Fortuniana is also resistant.
Nemacur is nasty - try the other organic cures first.
Deryn

Here's the latest in the US on Nemacur. Not good.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nemacur phase-out