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Discussion id : 13-106
most recent 14 JUL 06 HIDE POSTS
 
Initial post 7 JUL 06 by Livonia Rose

PLEASE HELP!  I have over a dozen roses and can't seem to get rid of the black spot.  I use the drip method to water, spray with various Rose sprays for problems, have used Daconil and still continue to have this problem.   Do you have any other suggestions?  I live in Michigan.


Livonia Rose

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Reply #1 of 5 posted 7 JUL 06 by Kim Rupert

Wow! I don't think you realize how much information is needed from you to fully answer your question. First, using drip saves water, but isn't necessarily the best method for preventing black spot. It's the humidity in the air, not actual water on the foliage which causes the problems. But, if the roses don't get enough water, they'll be more suceptible to disease. You may wish to check that out, first. Do you fertilize? What do you use, how much and how often? Under nourished plants are also more likely to contract disease.


You state you've "used various rose sprays", but don't mention any other than Daconil, which is a good, low toxicity fungicide. You don't mention how often you've used it; at what concentration; for how long; nor how it's been applied. I encounter people all the time who figure you can use a trigger bottle, like an old Windex bottle, to apply chemicals to their roses. Nope. You need either a hose end sprayer which permits you to vary the concentration, or a pump sprayer, so you can fully cover the upper AND lower leaf surfaces.


You appear to live in an area where fungal problems are more severe, which means you'd better begin your spray program early, in anticipation of the diseases getting started, rather than waiting until you see them in your garden. Have you removed all of the diseased leaves from the plants, raked them from the area and then mulched, before spraying, to remove the source of reinfection? You also don't describe the growing conditions, such as available sun hours and quality; air circulation; how crowded your roses are, etc. What type of roses are the worst offenders? Which cultivars are the worst?


You can virtually eliminate disease from your roses, but it takes a multi step approach, begun early and maintained religiously (depending upon the heat and humidity in your area). Daconil is good, as are Serenade (organic) and Immunox (inorganic), but they have to be started prior to the problems and repeated properly per package instructions. The greater the level of housekeeping you perform in your rose beds, the greater your chances of success. If you don't get enough sunlight to dry out the area, you're going to have difficulties.  If the plants are too crowded, you're doomed to failure. Other plants included in the rose beds (companion plantings) may crowd the roses, reducing air circulation and competing for food and water. Surrounding shrubs, such as hedges, can have similar effects. If your roses are planted too closely to walls or fences, you may have too much reflected and radiant heat, causing more perfect conditions for disease to flourish. If the varieties you've selected are known for suceptibility to disease, you may wish to rethink your choices and select more disease resistant roses.


There are simply too many unanswered questions here for anyone to be able to tell you what to do to correct your blackspot problem. I hope this helps.


 


 

REPLY
Reply #2 of 5 posted 8 JUL 06 by Wendy C

Michigan is having a stellar year for black spot. I know rosarians there and they too are having one heck of a time. Take heart you aren't alone.


If I were in your position, I'd pull all of the diseased foliage off the roses and make sure it's all picked up off the ground. The roses will look naked, but they'll be fine.


Spray with something you haven't used as much.. new would be better. I have good luck with Immunox. Spray your naked roses. Then spray again when the foliage starts to come back. Keep a close eye on the roses, pull all effected foliage as you see it. And keep up on the spray schedule. Rotating products helps to prevent the fungus from becoming immune to the sprays.


Good luck

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Reply #3 of 5 posted 14 JUL 06 by margothom
The only sure fire solution is to only buy disease resistant plants.  I decided to do that years ago after suffering through a few years of some sick hybrid teas -- gorgeous blooms, but ugly to look at plants.  My decision means I don't grow several whole families of roses that I would love to -- bourbons, most hybrid teas, to name a few.  If a few leaves get sick, I'll pluck them off, but if it's most of the plant, it gets the heave ho.  The roses I do keep, I never spray. 
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Reply #4 of 5 posted 14 JUL 06 by Jody
To the Old Lady of Old Roses, Hi,  could you  please tell us which roses you do grow. I live in the Pacific Northwest so the blackspot is always a problem and am at the point you are. The only thing one can do is grow roses resistant to it. I mostly grow rugosas, which never get it. Is that what you have settled on? or do you have any other suggestions of old roses. Thanks  Jody
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Reply #5 of 5 posted 14 JUL 06 by margothom
I, too, live on the West Coast, so I have blackspot and mildew to battle with-- and that's much of why I opted for the disease resistant roses.  Then I discovered that I preferred their variety of blooms, leaf textures, and plant form in the landscape.  Rather than repeat much of what I say about disease resistance on my web site, I will just refer you to it: www.oldladyofoldroses.ca.    And you are on the right track with Rugosas -- they are one of the best and survive amazing neglect and hardships.  Margo
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