Roses

My roses have dark brown spots and yellowing on the leaves. Is it a bug or a deficiency? Anybody know?

Tallen62, It's everyone's favorite rose disease - blackspot!! Find a basic rose spray that says it works on blackspot and spray every week. You also need to pluck off the affected leaves and trash them - don't let them spread around the rose bush or they'll reinfect it. Blackspot can denude a rose bush quickly, so get ahead of it. In our area (lots of humidity) we start spraying as soon as the leaves appear and spray every two weeks unless a bout of it calls for more often. Good luck!

We have to spray ours after every rain or it takes the poor roses over. I know that is a lot of spraying but it seems necessary since nothing else works. I remove the blackspot leaves daily and pick up any that are on the ground also. I dead-head every day also. I can't keep them in good shape if I don't. Most of mine are hybrid teas and if I had known then what I know now I would have never bought the first one. They are killers when it comes to proper careand the older i get the harder it is to keep them properly cared for. I don't find English roses or old roses to be as difficult.

Thanks for the info about the dreaded black spot. One of my bushes is affected with it real bad. What do you mean that it can "denude" the rose bush?

It means that all the leaves fall off if the fungus gets to them all. This kills the plant. Someone else might have a different experience, but I haven't found any particular fungicide to be better than any other, by the way, so buy it as cheaply as you can. Roses are some work, but I love them!!

Yogurt works on humans, mebbe it would work on roses?

Lavanda, Would you apply the yogurt with a paintbrush or a sprayer? Also, do you suggest plain, vanilla, or strawberry? LOL!

Elena and Eanders2, Do you find that systemic fungicides work better than other sprays? I have a solitary climbing rose that decided to grow this year and it has put out a new cane. I have been spraying, but haven't caught on to rose upkeep yet.

It apparently is trying to grow out of fear, as my motto is "thrive or die".

LOL ! back at ya!

I would say plain, since the fruity scent and flavor might attract even more critters!

But seriously, the acidopholous bacteria (a good guy) is good applied topically or taken internally when ones has some types of fungus, like athlete's foot, yeast infection,
intestinal bug, etc.

And it works well on septic tank activity when poured down the sink.

More than yu ever wanted to know about yogurt, huh?

Nat, I use both. I know a lot of gardeners are anti-sprays, but I figure either I get the roses or the bugs get the roses - and I want them!!

I agree, if you don't stay with it you will lose them or they will look so pitiful you will be ashamed to continue trying to keep them.

I love my hybrid teas, but agree they are demanding. I (try) to keep on top of the blackspot. I did lose one last season so I try to be dilligent about picking up the bad leaves. It is hard though, with so many other garden chores. Good luck!