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Crown Gall Back to Rosenut's Rose Care Crown gall is not harmless. It is caused by a bacteria and can be spread by chewing insects, pruners, and damage to the canes. It will cause smaller blooms, stunted growth and eventually death to the bush. Recommended control is to remove and destroy the plant. The bacteria can live in the soil for up to two years. Some success has been achieved by cutting off the gall and applying an antibacterial cream such as used on humans. Make sure you disinfect the knife. If you remove the bush, it's suggested that you remove the soil and replace. A complete dip of the bush in a solution of 1 cup Clorox to 5 gals of water prior to planting has been suggested to destroy any bacteria which may have arrived on the plant. I've poured a 5 gal bucket of water mixed with the bleach on the soil after removing the plant and have had success with that. Maybe I was just lucky. Don't compost the galls or infected plants, destroy them. Stop fertilizing about the middle of August.
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