will roundup kill rose bushes

Understanding Roundup’s Impact on Rose Bushes A Gardener’s Guide

As a passionate rose gardener, I know the heartbreak of seeing your beloved roses harmed Unfortunately, the popular herbicide Roundup poses a major threat to our rose bushes if used improperly In this article, I’ll share my experience with Roundup damage and how to protect your roses.

Roundup contains the active ingredient glyphosate, which is non-selective This means it indiscriminately kills any plant it contacts, including prized roses Even tiny amounts of drift or residue can injure or kill roses. I learned this the hard way when my gardener sprayed Roundup to control weeds. Despite assurances it was safe, I later noticed distorted buds and yellow, curled foliage on my roses. A fellow gardener identified it as Roundup damage. My heart sank realizing the herbicide had drifted onto the roses, nearly killing some bushes.

How exactly does Roundup harm roses? Glyphosate is absorbed through the leaves, then transported to the roots. This disrupts nutrient uptake, eventually starving the plant. Symptoms like scorched leaves and stunted growth appear before the bush dies. Rose varieties stressed by drought or pests are most vulnerable. But even mature, healthy bushes can suffer long-term effects or perish with enough exposure.

While Roundup is very effective on weeds, I no longer use it in my garden. The risks are too great for the surrounding plants, especially my beloved roses. However, I know some gardeners do choose to carefully use Roundup around roses. So here are some tips to minimize dangers if you decide to go this route:

• Spray on very calm, still days to prevent drift onto roses. Even light winds can blow droplets onto contact-sensitive roses.

• Shield roses with impermeable covers like plastic sheeting while spraying nearby areas. This forms a physical barrier.

• Wear protective clothing to avoid residue on clothes that could then transfer to roses.

• Use a shield attachment on your spray wand to precisely target only weeds, not roses. Avoid any overspray.

• Wash rose foliage thoroughly after application to remove any accidental residue before it can be absorbed.

• Water the soil well around roses to dilute any Roundup that lands on the ground. This minimizes root uptake.

Even with great caution, Roundup accidents can still happen. So I encourage exploring alternative weed control methods that are safer for your roses and other garden plants. Here are some effective options:

• Manual removal by hand pulling, hoeing or digging. More labor intensive but avoids chemicals.

• Spreading mulch or landscape fabric to smother weeds.

• Spot spraying horticultural vinegar, a natural herbicide that provides contact weed control.

• Applying corn gluten-based pre-emergent weed preventers in spring and fall. These inhibit seed germination without harming established plants.

• Cultivating healthy soil and using roses’ competitive nature to choke out weeds. Good conditions discourage weeds from establishing in the first place.

While it takes more effort upfront, I’ve found integrating several of these organic methods keeps weeds under control without Roundup’s risks. The tradeoff is worthwhile knowing my roses remain protected. Occasional spot treatment with targeted natural herbicides like horticultural vinegar provides extra help when needed.

If you already have an unwanted rose bush, don’t reach for Roundup. I strongly advise against using it as a removal method due to dangers to other plants. Instead, here are some safer DIY removal techniques:

• For smaller bushes, manually dig up the entire root ball. This is labor intensive but avoids chemicals.

• Apply a brush killer product containing triclopyr instead of glyphosate. Though still synthetic, triclopyr is lower risk and won’t spread through soil.

• Cut large roses repeatedly to ground level. Persistent cutting starves the roots until the bush dies.

• For big mature plants, rent a ripper attachment on a skid steer to mechanically extract root balls.

Always wear gloves and protective clothing when handling roses to avoid painful scratches. Bag up debris and discard at your local green waste facility so any residual chemical residue doesn’t impact compost.

To summarize, Roundup and roses don’t mix in my experience. While not impossible to use Roundup cautiously around roses, why risk it? There are many safer and more holistic alternatives for weed control. Avoiding Roundup altogether is the best way to safeguard your roses’ health and beauty for years to come. Let your roses thrive free of unwanted chemicals!