You need an accurate diagnosis, so we need closeups of several terminal growths (the ones you suspect are infected), and with good light. It's too hard to tell from the photos you have provided.

Seeing what I can in the present shots, I suspect mildew, which I hope it is rather than Rose Rosette Disease. Mildew can be treated successfully. Rose Rosette Disease is terminal.

Moses

The color looks like typical Knock Out to me. I don't see anything alarming in those photos.

Thanks for the feedback. I've taken a few more pictures and I admit they don't show my areas of concern as vividly as I'd like, particularly compared to standing directly in front of them. I tried to circle or highlight the areas I'm looking at, particularly foliage with the red veining that I don't think is consistent with the normal, new growth foliage I've come to expect, combined with the odd coloring of the leaves themselves. The third picture of the three intends to illustrate some "normal" growth next to some of the growth I think is abnormal.

I hope these photos help, and again, thanks for the assist.

Thanks for the new photos. I believe it is Rose Rosette Disease. Looking closely do you see foreshortened, extremely thorny growth? That would further confirm Rose Rosette Disease.

The roses should be carefully dug up, but first spray the roses all over generously with hairspray before digging. Doing this should help keep mites if any from spreading. Get a couple cans from the dollar store.

The dug up roses should be placed in secure plastic bags and placed out for trash pickup.

The first thing that I see is powdery mildew starting up. Is there any chance that weed killers have been used or are you close to farmland?

A couple more things, Knockouts can give some really strange growth. On your photo with the square drawn would you mind pruning off the top growth into a bag. Take it to a safe spot so that we can get a good look at it. I'm thinking that they are o'kay butttt. One thing for you to look for is a stem that is significantly larger than the one it is growing from. So if we could get a good up close look at that top it would help.

I really don't know but here is what I don't like. The edges of those leaves are to feathery. The stems are to thick for that high up on a knockout. Thorns are not right for knockout. I see leaves that are smooth on one side and ragged on the other.

Is that the same stem that was so red if it is it greened up nicely?

A lot of the east has gotten somewhere between rain and a lot of rain this summer. Many roses are responding with overzealous growth, making it hard to determine what is and is not normal. If the roses were around here, and were the only roses on the property, I'd actually recommend keeping them for the time being until they show more definite signs. There are a lot of factors going into that statement, which may or may not be true for where you are. Cultivated roses are fairly rare here, and RRD seems to spread fairly slowly. Also, infected roses do not survive the winter anyway.

• I like mads reasoning. I do not like that particular stem. I also don't like that you are viewing what you see as different. A gut instinct so to speak. Yet most of the growth looks normal. Normal coloring and a reasonable amount of growth. I feel silly but I can't tell yet either way. Maybe Ann will have an option. Other than that I'd say wait and watch.

Just for some extra information, these roses are in a dedicated, elevated bed in my backyard, and were planted at *least* five years ago. We are in a nice suburb of Oklahoma City, and the roses have required only minimal care. I've heard anecdotally that knockout roses have been a bit under seige with various diseases in this region since last summer, but until now ours had been trouble-free and thus saw no reason to do anything special to them. My lawn receives only a twice-yearly dose of 34-0-0 fertilizer and weed control in spring and pre-fall. The neighbor to my south has a much more extensive backyard garden and I have no idea what he may be applying, if anything. With prevailing southerly winds, blow-over of anything he uses into my yard is not at all inconceivable. The only other plants in my backyard are two mature crepe myrtles in the corners and a raised vegetable garden bed some 30 feet away.

It sounds to me like there is enough uncertainty here such thatI'll probably keep the roses this season and see if any new, more normal growth emerges. Any additional input is much appreciated.

Hi I don't have time at the moment. I've been thinking about this post and I'm going to search for the best photos I can find. Things that you can look for that are tell signs of rrd. It is most difficult to see sometimes from photos what is going on. You would then be able to peer into the roses to get a better look. Then if you should see something matching the photos you could also show it here.

It is hard to totally dismiss unusual growth because those very early symptoms are when it is possible to save the rose. There is however one thing your is not showing and that is very rapid growth that is often seen in rrd. I'm happy you are waiting as they look good for now.