Dave, good luck with that. Gall is an issue here, too and I find it on potted roses which have only always been pot grown in soil less potting soil. These haven't experienced any root injuries, so that eliminates that issue. I do know some varieties are much more susceptible to gall. In my area, anything closely related to The Fairy is guaranteed to contract gall. Pink Flower Carpet, The Fairy itself, Francine Austin and others whose names don't come readily to mind, are notorious for gall with it actually killing Flower Carpet. The only preventative I know of for it is Galltrol, which I haven't resorted to, but am considering. Kim

Here is a link that might be useful: Galltrol

Thanks, Kim. Crown gall could be spread by pruning tools used on an infected plant. I carry a coffee mug of rubbing alcohol around with me when I'm pruning and disinfect my pruners between plants. I've been to the Galltrol website but it looks like something that would be feasible only for growers doing propagating. There is no price listed and one has to order by phone. Has anyone purchased Galltrol/Gallex and used it with success?

I've not used it Dave. I do know Roses of Yesterday and Today treated all of their plants with it as they told me they did on a visit to them years ago. Perhaps it's available from other sources? That was the main site, but it's possible it could be available from other outlets. Kim

See the following:

"Koppert supplies TRIANUM (Trichoderma harzianum strain T-22) for the control of soil-borne pathogens and the general strengthening of crops, often resulting in increased yields of better quality. Interestingly, recent observations by Kenyan rose growers who consistently use Trianum is that the level of infection of their rose bushes with Crown Gall (Agrobaterium tumefaciens) has gone down tremendously!"

Here is a link that might be useful: link for above

Thanks, Henry. I followed the link and learned that Trichoderma is a fungus and then I went to Rosemania's website ( where I purchase most of my chenicals). Plant Success contains Trichoderma so I may purchase a bunch of the stuff and give it a try this year. I've been drenching every year with Actinovate SP because it is a bacteria and thus won't be affected by the large quantities of fungicides that I spray . The roses really seem to like the Actinovate but I'll give the Plant Success a try. Thanks again for the info.

Someone a few years ago said that if you can cut off the half of the root mass with the galls and separate the canes/roots that don't you can soak the gall free part in some bleach water and replant in sterilized potting mix. I did that in 2 cases and so far no galls have returned. But these were on roots not canes. I have replaced soil in two spots and have not seen it return. I replanted with potted roses that I was super careful with when I slid them out of the pots and surrounding them was a big moat of fresh soil.

Be very careful when pruning down low and sterilize tools.