Should you use a herbicide to take care of Rosa Rugosa rhizomes?
Question:
A neighbor of mine in ‘mistake’ planted a Rosa Rugosa. Last year, they had the mother plant removed, but through either rhizomes or seed, MANY new plants developed this year. They again have a company coming in to remove any visible plants/rhizomes. I think they will need to be diligent in spraying an herbicide to kill anything coming up. My question to you PLEASE: What is the best herbicide for them to use in the future?
Answer:
As a university we cannot recommend one product over another.
I can share this fact sheet that gives recommendations of the active ingredient needed in an herbicide to be effective in that process. Click on the blue underlined text and go to the bottom of the article at you are looking for what NOT to do.
“Roses are sensitive to postemergence broadleaf herbicides that may be used in landscapes, such as 2,4-D, triclopyr, and dicamba; these should not be used in or near planting beds with roses. Generally, use broadleaf herbicides with great care when rose plants are present in nearby landscapes so as not to cause damage from drift.
Roses are also very sensitive to glyphosate (Roundup and many other trade names), which can be absorbed through the green stems in addition to the leaves. Glyphosate damage may appear at bud break the following spring after a summer or fall application that contacts leaves or stems; symptoms include a proliferation of small, narrow shoots and leaves.“