Question
QUESTION: I have two rose bushes, I am not sure of the type of rose but they are a small bush, coral flowers - similar to a knock out rose.  I planed both 2 years ago.  The first year they flowered beautifully.  The second year, I noticed that one of the bushes was not blooming, even though there appeared to be buds on the bush.  At closer inspection, it looks like the new growth is coming in a shade of reddish brown and shriveled looking.  The rose buds also look shriveled and do not open.  This spring, which is now the third year....the first bush has come in looking strange again....and the second bush is also showing the same reddish brown new growth, shriveled leaves and buds.  Half of this second bush still looks normal and has blooming roses.  Very strange - any ideas?

ANSWER: I hope I am wrong, but it sounds a lot like the disease Rose Rosette. It is serious and the plant has to be destroyed or all of your roses will get it. Here is some information for you about the disease plus pictures. Hope it isn't.
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/IPM.asp?code=104&group=67&level=s

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QUESTION: Thank you for respoding......and unfortunately, I think you are correct.  The pictures on the MOBOT website look like they were taken in my backyard!  I have about 35 rose bushes as well as lilac bushes, peonies, daylillies and numerous other flowering plants and bushes in some rather extensive landscaping my husband and I installed surrounding our entire backyard.  I will remove and destroy the two bushes that are infected - but I wonder if it is ok to go ahead and plant new bushes now or if it would be better to wait.  Also, should I treat the surrounding soil and plants to guard against the disease spreading after the infected rose bushes are removed?  Thank you,

Answer
Rose Rosette is a microscopic mite which feeds on an infected rose and is then moves from the infected rose to another rose, where it feeds on tissue in bud eyes and stem axils and that spreads the 'virus' to the vascular system of the rose. Once in the vascular system, it moves throughout the rose.
So it can spread from one rose to another grafting. Also if even a tiny piece of root is left in the soil, when you plant another rose there it will then get Rose Rosette via the roots. However if you wait a year then the mites will have moved on and it will be safe to plant another rose.
It doesn't fly, but floats from one rose plant to the next. It keeps moving until it finds another rose or it dies.
These mites are generally incurable. The mites that cause Rose Rosette have not been isolated and studied.
The mites overwinter on infected roses. If no one in your area has got RRD then you got it from the place you bought the roses. If that is the case I would take the dug up roses back to them because the disease will have spread to their other roses or they may have got it from their wholesaler. I would keep an eye open next year or even now in case the mites have escaped to other roses in your garden. It is only the roses they are interested in.