Image from Wikimedia Commons |
We have always wondered why there are rose bushes planted at the ends of rows in vineyards. Now that we have a vineyard, it prompted us to look into it. And what we learned makes sense. Roses and grapes are both susceptible to some of the same fungal diseases, namely powdery mildew and downy mildew. Roses, in fact, act as an early warning signal for mildew. They help the vintner catch the diseases at an early stage so proper treatment can be applied. In other words, they help to control the fungus among us. I also came across a curious alt truth story from Australia.