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Roses sprayed with weed killer

OldnewgardenerOldnewgardener Posts: 16
in Problem solving

I've looked through the messages and see it's been done before. I can't believe I was so daft!! These are 10, twenty five year old roses which I transplanted last year. I didn't really think they stood a chance but they were doing so well. I thought I was spraying them for blackspot but lifted the weed killer by mistake (should have gone to Specksavers!!) I realised just as I finished spraying, and followed the advice on here to hose down, but this is how they look a week later. Is it obvious to you more experienced gardeners that they are done for? Should I just leave them, would there be any point in cutting them right down or should I just dig them out??


Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I'd wait and see. You will probably lose all the leaves but fingers crossed, some might survive. Keep watering them well.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • OldnewgardenerOldnewgardener Posts: 16
    Thanks Lizzie27. they were lovely old roses, really hate that I'll probably loose them. 
  • luis_prluis_pr Posts: 123
    edited June 2021
    Oh, no. :'( Depending on how much of the spray dripped into the soil, I would also consider replacing any old mulch with new mulch or replacing a small amount of top soil if you do not have mulch. Also consider calling the manufacturer's toll free number and ask what else you could do. Good luck!
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,190
    What kind of weedkiller is it? If it is systemic then the plants might be completely killed, but if not then only the leaves will be killed and the plants will produce new growth in time.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    How horribly disappointing. Roses really don't like glyphosate, but I did have one once that survived, Constance Spry. I was spraying a path and there was a sudden strong gust of wind. It grew very small leaves afterwards, a bit distorted, and lost some stems, but it grew back the following year.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • OldnewgardenerOldnewgardener Posts: 16
    Thank you for your replies.
    Yes, unfortunately was systemic and I gave them a good old soaking. They looked even worse today, so I pruned them right back and mixed some mulch around the base. I'm not expecting anything but worth a go I suppose  :( 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    You could console yourself with the thought that you enjoyed them for a good long time and think about what a good buying opportunity you might have to get some new roses you might not have tried before. The Roses thread on here has many splendid examples.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited June 2021
    Just a thought ... it’s too late now, but I would’ve hard pruned right down to three  buds from the base immediately I realised what I’d done. 

    Hopefully, if done within a few hours, that would’ve prevented the translocation of the systemic chemical back to the roots. 

    You’d have lost your blooms for this year but it might have saved the plants ... and rejuvenated them. 

    So sorry it’s happened, but a dead plant is a new planting opportunity. 😊
     
    As others have suggested, take a look at the gorgeous roses in the rose threads here, and put in an order for some  choice varieties ... bare root plants are so much cheaper, and if you get your order in early you should have the pick of all the varieties before they sell out ... even if you have to wait until winter for them to arrive. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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