How to Repair a Rose Tree Trunk
Rose trees are not actually trees, but a way to use a tree trunk to cultivate the roses' shape. Miniature rose types are grafted onto the trunk of a tree that is generally three feet tall, and grow into the spreading shape of the tree. Often the trunks of the tree may become infected with fungal diseases or damaged by the weather. Harsh weather conditions like wind and rain can hurt the trunk and the canes of the tree. Repair your rose tree trunk to restore the health of your tree. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wooden stakes
- Stake hammer
- Polyurethane strips
- Bypass shears
- Pruning saw
- Gall ointment
- Paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Determine how many wooden stakes you need and their height to help your tree support the weight of the canes (stems). You need one stake per 3-inch in diameter of the trunk of the tree. The stake should be tall enough to be driven 18 inches into the ground and be a little over half the height of the tree.
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Drive the wooden stakes into the ground with a stake hammer, one foot away from the trunk that is leaning from the weight of the rose canes. Because grafted trunks support a lot of weight, they may start to lean to one side.
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Wrap one polyurethane strip around the tree and tie it to the stake. Tie another polyurethane strip to the other stake if your tree is over 3 inches in diameter. Make sure the tree can move around, because a tightly tied tree will produce weak roots.
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4
Prune off some of the canes to reduce the amount of weight placed on the trunk. Use a pair of bypass shears to remove unhealthy canes first. Cut down to healthy buds that are growing outward.
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Inspect the grafting area for any fungal or bacterial disease like crown gall. A gall is an open sore. Symptoms include a white, spongy tumor-like growth near the union. The union is where the canes were attached to the existing trunk to grow a rose tree. It will look like a swelling on the trunk area. As the disease progresses, it will start to enlarge and turn dark. Leaves will discolor, and blossoms may start to wilt. Crown gall generally infects any graft unions or wounds on a rose tree.
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Remove the crown gall with a pruning saw if you notice the disease on the rose tree trunk. Cut the gall off flush with the tree and discard it in the trash.
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Apply a topical gall treatment ointment with a paintbrush. Spread the ointment on the area where the gall was growing and along the entire trunk of the tree. Reapply according to the directions.
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Tips & Warnings
Place more stakes around the trunk of the tree and tie additional support after removing the gall if it covered a large area.
Avoid leaving the tree staked for over 24 months because it will cause stunted growth and promote a weak root system.
