6 Tips for Dealing with Rose Diseases

Take the following steps to ensure that your roses stay in the best of health. This is a list of challenges we face with keeping your roses healthy along with a solution.

1. Black Spots on Leaves

Black spots that show up as circular with fringed edges on the leaves is a disease known as Black Spot. This particular disease causes the leaves to turn a yellowish color. To control this disease, the infected leaves must be removed as well as the fallen leaves on the ground around the plant. Locate and use an artificial spray that is common in your area and treat the plant following the directions.

2. Stunted or Malformed Young Canes

This is a fungal type disease known as powdery mildew. It easily visible by the residue left on the leaves, stems and buds of wind spread white powder. It causes the leaves to curl and turn purple. Spray the plant with Funginex or Benomyl to treat this fungal disease.

3. Blistered Underside of Leaves

This is known as rust.  It’s a disease that is characterized by orange-red blisters that turn black during autumn. The disease can survive the winter and will often come back and attack the new sprouts in the spring. You should collect and discard the leaves that are infected in the fall. A Benomyl or Funginex spray every 6-10 days should help.

4. Malformed or Stunted Leaves and Flowers

This is caused by tiny spider mites. They’re tiny yellow, red or green spiders found on the underside of leaves where they suck juices. The application of Orthene or Isotox may help in treating this infestation.

5. Weak and Mottled leaves with Tiny White Webs Under Them

This is caused by a small soft-bodied insect called aphid that’s usually brown, green or red. They’re often clustered under leaves and flower buds, where they suck plant juices from tender buds. Malathion or diazinon spray may help roses to survive these bugs.

6. Flowers That Don’t Open or are Deformed When They Open.

Thrips could be the reason behind this problem. They are slender, brown-yellow bugs with fringed wings that also suck juices from flower buds. Cut and discard the infested flowers. Orthene and malathion may also treat this problem.

Remember that roses are hungry feeders that require a lot of fertilizer to become and remain healthy bushes.