# Rose Leaf Curl
Roses are old-fashioned garden darlings. They are as familiar to the non-gardener as to the devoted dirt lover. Roses perfume the summer air and can be grown in almost every area of the United States. The plants are usually grafted onto compatible roots stock, which enhances the characteristics and health of the original variety. Roses require quite a bit of nurturing to prevent the all-too-common diseases and pests that plague the plants. Rose leaf curl is a named disease, but several factors can cause curled rose leaves.
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Growing Roses
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Roses perform best in a full sun location. They require pruning annually to increase blooms and provide air circulation. Roses need medium levels of water but should be allowed to have their soil dry out between irrigation. The best practice is to irrigate at the soil level to keep leaves dry and prevent fungal diseases. Weeds are competitors for nutrients and need to be removed consistently. A number of pests cause leaf distortion, but the majority can be controlled with a systemic insecticide or insecticidal soap. Fungicidal applications in spring may be necessary in warm, wet climates to prevent foliar damage from fungal diseases.
Rose Leaf Curl Virus
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A disease called rose leaf curl causes the leaves on a rose to curl downward. It is unknown what exactly causes the disease but it is thought to be a virus. The rose industry refers to the disease as RLC and it only affects hybrid roses, not root stock varieties. It is primarily found in public rose gardens but is slowly spreading to other sectors. New leaves drop off the shoots, which are malformed with a broad base and pointy end. Eventually the disease infects the canes and can get into the xylem of infected plants. The only cure is to destroy the rose bush.
Rose Spring Dwarf Virus
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Rose spring dwarf disease is probably from a virus but little is known about the disease. It sometimes occurs in concurrence with RLC, but can also appear alone. It is found in nursery, landscape and public roses. The spring leaves are first affected. At emergence they exhibit balled or curved leaves. The surface of the leaves may appear netted or lacy. Later in the growing season, the symptoms disappear but they may recur annually. The only treatment for this disease is removal of the plant.
Herbicide Injury
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A common cause of curling leaves is herbicide drift, occurring when you apply herbicide to another plant but the wind catches it and the chemical ends up on your roses. This problem happens when applications are done in windy conditions or when plants are too close to each other. The leaves may not only curl but also assume a cupped shape, remain small, turn yellow or just die and fall off. In severe cases the entire plant may die.
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