Common Rose Diseases - Identification, Prevention and Cure
Roses are beautiful in any garden, but if you plan to grow them you should learn a little about the different rose diseases and how they can affect your plants. Roses are generally weakened during the winter season and they become more susceptible to different diseases when the next growing season begins.
Even though your roses will be able to survive the winter, there are no assurances that it will not be affected by fungus infections that may be brought about by spring rains, summer heat and humidity. Here is a list of some common rose disease:
Powdery Mildew - This is caused by a fungus that looks like white powder on the leaves and stems of roses. To help prevent Powdery Mildew, water your roses during the day so that the stems and leaves dry quickly or always water at the base of the plant. Powdery Mildew must be treated promptly or the leaves will drop and your rose plant may die.
Rose Mosaic - This is caused by a virus as opposed to most rose diseases which are fungal in nature. Its symptoms look like mosaic patterns that are discolored yellow and green.
Rust - This common rose disease called rust looks like orange powder on the bottom of the leaves. Rust can easily spread to other leaves and other nearby rose plants.
Blackspot - Blackspot is a disease that appears as a series of black spots (1/16 to 1/2 an inch in diameter) on the leaves of your plants. If left untreated it can destroy all of your plants foliage. While many varieties of plant are susceptible to Blackspot, Hybrid Teas are resistant to the disease.
If your rose garden has fungal disease you must remove the affected plant. After removing the plant make sure you also remove all clippings and leaves that fall during the removal process. Do not leave these clippings near other plants since the fungus can spread to another plant. If you are still unable to remove the fungus from your garden go to a garden supply professional. Ask the professional for fungus treatment products specifically for your roses or garden.
Being careful about a few simple things in the garden can greatly reduce the chances of your roses being adversely affected by fungus. First, do not water the plant itself, water the soil around the plant. Second, remove all clippings and fallen leaves from around the plant, cut away diseased canes or blooms, and practice regular pruning. This allows air to circulate, which is good for plants. And when you are pruning, remember to seal all of your cuts. Elmer’s Glue is a safe, effective, and inexpensive way to seal cuts. Finally, feed your roses regularly, as well fed roses are better at resisting infection.
If you live in an area with high heat and humidity, the best choice is to select a disease-resistant variety of roses. Disease-resistant implies that there is a less likely chance of your plant becoming infected providing you follow the recommendations listed here. Unfortunately, no plant is disease free.