fallen leaves remaining from diseased roses.

Question

I just removed several diseased roses from our garden. Now, if there is any leaves left on the ground, should we spray with anything?

The disease, we determined from looking online at pictures was rosey rose. Our roses had all the symptoms. They over produced buds, thorns and too many leaves were on each limb. They came out purple in color. Our large roses did not mature and looked un-natural.
Thanks.
Martha

Answer 1

There is no such disease as rosey rose. There is a nasty virus called Rose Rosette. A truly hardy rose will produce many buds and the new foliage coming forth can be nearly purple and dark or can be a dark maroon color before it turns green. The difference is that the leaves look mottled and twisted, sometimes broomlike in appearance if infected with rose rosette virus. Some insects and mites can cause the buds on rosebushes not to open, be mutilated or just fall off prior to maturation. Thrips are one nasty bug that can cause bud to bloom maturation problems. First thing to do is to be sure what we are dealing with. I would rake up as many leaves that are left as possible and dump them in the trash. Then I would take some soils samples to a testing lab and have them tested for pH level and for anything that might be detrimental to rosebushes. See how the reports come back and proceed as the lab tech advises. I would plant more rosebushes that I always wanted to try since the canvas of my rose garden painting is now blank.

Answer 2

Here is a link for you on Rose Rosette too: http://www.rose.org/rose-care-articles/rose-rosette-disease-sadly/