Gardening Is So Different Here!: Re: Roses and Black Spot

» FYNFAN - Re: Roses and Black Spot

Exactly Kirk, I don't use anything on my roses either to prevent black spot and I don't have too many problems with it. Watering practices and extensive rains are the major cause of black spot here in Florida. Overhead watering and keeping the leaves wet provides the environment for fungal problems. Drip or microjet irrigation is better for roses. Being a clean gardener will also help. Pull the leaves with black spot off (making sure not to touch other roses without sterilizing tools or hands first) and any leaves that fall onto the ground, pick up as black spot is air-borne carried. Good air circulation is necessary, so if you only have one or two roses spaced apart, you won't see many disease problems. It's when you have groupings of roses that it can devastate your garden bed. Black spot fungus, Diplocarpon rosae, can be controlled with a fungicide, but the ideal solution is good gardening habits, proper irrigation, and healthy, disease-resistant roses, like antique roses or the newer varieties such as Knock-outs.

Teresa
http://cfyn.ifas.ufl.edu

-- posted by FYNFAN