Knowledgebase
Maryland snake identification #829844
Asked May 13, 2023, 2:06 PM EDT
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
Miri
Hi Ed,
Roses can be difficult and tedious with their care to have healthy happy look shrubs full of blooms. A number of factors can play into their stressed appearance.
You can explore rose problems on out Rose Diagnostic page. It looks like we are seeing some symptoms of roseslug sawfly damage and maybe some rust on the leaves.
Management of symptoms for any leaf spots of fungal disease either rust symptoms or leafspot can start with careful watering, only watering the base and avoid splashing up on the leaves. (https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs ) Removing any fallen leaves through the season and after a frost. Trimming off any heavily diseased branches. Next spring if you want to try to stay on top of symptoms, you can apply a labeled fungicides for rust to slow disease development. Fungicide applications would have to be repeated (based on product label instructions) throughout the summer. It isn't curative for the fungus and has to be kept up through humid weather. Fungicides may harm pollinators or other organisms, so use them with caution and do not spray open flowers.
For the sawfly damage, there are 3 different species that can affect roses in Maryland and depending on when the larvae emerge for the species, is when you can target their population. You can check under the leaves to see if you notice any of the worms present. They may have already matured to adult flies and in that case there isn't a treatment that should be used that won't harm other pollinators or beneficials that may be on the plant. The damage on the leaves won't heal so as new growth emerges, the old damaged leaves will fall off.
- If the infestation is light, pick off the larvae by hand and destroy them. They can be dropped into a container of soapy water to kill them. To control heavy infestations, use horticultural oil or spray with spinosad. Target the undersides of the leaves.
- Control is the same for all three species.
After review treatments and management strategies, feel free to reach out with further questions.
Emily