How can I cure blackspot on roses – They get it every year?
A A good idea, is to try to prevent Blackspot – then you won’t have the problem of trying to cure it. Blackspot is a foliage fungal disease of roses and is quite unmistakable, with the tell tale circular/eliptical black spots. Good cultivation will go far in preventing this disease – i.e. proper feeding, pruning and general cultivation. Once the new growth is established in the Spring – after pruning – then regular spraying with RoseClear 2 or MultiRose (which also kills aphids and feeds the plant as well), will normally keep the disease at bay. If infected, then take off all affected leaves – burn – spray with the above and apply a good fertiliser (TopRose or Blood Fish and Bone). As an aid to prevention, try not to splash the foliage when watering the plants. Roses grown in town centre areas seem to get less infected. Perhaps it is the extra suphur – an excellent fungicide – in the air!!!
