Northeast Gardening: 2010 Garden Photos - 16, 0 by Tex68

Tex68 wrote:
Another Alium Giganteum with Mardi Gras roses.

Jen - to answer your question in the previous thread regarding black spots on roses. Well. I've been fortunate I don't have that big of a problem regarding BS. On occasions, just the very bottom part and just a few leaf here and there.
I don't wet the foliage at all. I only water the roots. I think the number one cause of BS on roses is inconsistent watering. If you let the soil dry out, the bush/shrub will be more prone to the disease. I deep water my roses twice a week especially when its hot. I just don't rely on rainfalls. Once a week at least if I get lazy.

I also use Bayer 3 in 1 rose care about every 3 months. Easy to use, just mix it in water and pour the solution at the base of the rose plant. No spraying needed.
About every month I do foliar spraying of Messenger (some kind of protein and should be organic). They don't make Messenger anymore. The company that bought-out the makers of Messenger now manufactures Employ, but the nursery I go to still carries Messenger.