How to Deal With Common Problems With Roses
You have been considering buying and planting your first rose bush. But you are afraid of the problems and challenges in cultivating a rose bush? Cultivating a rose bush is not as difficult as it may seem. Yes, there are problems with roses, but they are not insurmountable. With some guidance and knowledge you can overcome the common problems with roses and enjoy a healthy, thriving rose plant in your yard.
Classic Problems with Roses
One of the most common problems, but rarely discussed is limb breakage, especially during the growing season. Rose branches are by their nature inherently prone to breaking. During the summer months when the bush is fully loaded down with leaves and rose flowers the added weight increases the risk of a limb breaking.
Black spot, powdery mildew, and rusty spots on leaves are other major problems with roses. While mildew is a problem that is found prevalently, rust and black spot cases seldom develop. Bush roses, more than any other types of roses, have problems with disease and mildew.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew gets its name from how it looks when a colony is growing on a rose plant. It has a grayish-white color with a powdery mat. The powdery mat is filled with spores.
The environment plays a huge role in powdery mildew growth. Powdery mildew thrives in cloudy, humid conditions during warm days and cool nights. Day time temperatures in the eighties and high humidity during the night provide an excellent growth environment.
Other causes are from over crowding the plantings, planting a rose in an overly damp area or shaded locations where air movement is limited.
The most recommended solution to stopping powdery mildew is to use a commercial fungicide. If you want to use a more back to basics natural solutions consider baking soda spray, oil sprays, soap sprays, and garlic oil sprays.
Black Spot
Black spot as it name implies is the formation of black circle like dots on the upper side of the leaves. Upon close inspection the black spot has a fringed boarder. Black spots can be up to 1/2 inch in diameter. The leaf tissue surrounding the black spot will yellow and the leaf may drop off.
The prime cause of black spot is leaves getting wet and staying wet. The common culprit is the use of overhead irrigation from a sprinkler. If must use an overhead sprinkler water in the morning to allow ample time during the day for the leaves to dry off. A drip or ground based irrigation system is much more preferred to preventing black spot.
Use a fungicide that is registered for treating black spot. Being treatments at the first sign of infection and continue through out the growing season.
Rusty Spots (Rose Rust)
A rose rust infection appears as rust or orange colored growth on the underside of the leaf. As the fungus spreads the upper side of the leaf will develop yellow to orange spots. Older leaves are more susceptible to rose rust than new growth leaves. The infected leaves tend to drop off the bush prematurely.
Never wet the leaves at dusk. This will encourage rose rust and other fungi to attach the leaves.
When the rose bush becomes infected with rose rust, treat it with a fungicide. Follow the manufactures directions on application and reapplication.
Problems with roses should not be feared nor ignored. It takes a little time and effort to learn how to deal with the common problems with roses. Armed with this knowledge you can go on to cultivate a lovely rose garden. That will provide you with years of enjoyment and satisfaction.
