How to Prevent Rose Disease

Black spot, powdery mildew, Japanese beetles - these are just a few of the many sworn enemies of roses. So how does a gardener fend off these armies of backyard foes? Prevention is key.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1-gallon Garden Sprayers
• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Garden Hoses
• Mulch
• Baking Soda
• Oil Soaps

1. Choose roses wisely. When shopping, choose roses touted as low-maintenance. If in doubt, those labeled as shrub or landscape roses tend to need the least care (hybrid teas need the most).

2. Plant properly. Make sure your rose is put in a site with plenty of sun (at least 6 hours of full, direct sun a day) and good soil with plenty of compost and excellent drainage. Follow planting directions to the letter.

3. Mix 'em up. Disease problems often occur in "monocultures," or vast expanses of the same type of plant. Space roses around your garden and interplant with low-growing perennials, annuals and other plants for a healthy, diversified mini ecosystem in your own backyard.

4. Feed your rose appropriately. Follow package directions on any good name-brand rose or general-purpose fertilizer. Roses are hungry plants that need regular fertilizing - but not too much.

5. Water regularly and water smart. As a rule, roses need at least 1 inch of rain or watering a week. Make sure your rose gets enough. Also, when watering, it's better to give a rose one deep soaking instead of several smaller waterings; it helps the plant develop deeper, stronger roots. One other tip: Water in the morning so leaves dry faster, preventing fungal diseases.

6. Mulch. Apply a 1- to 2-inch layer of wood chips, grass clippings, pine needles or other organic mulch around the base of your rose. This will suppress weeds and prevent soilborne diseases from splashing on the plant.

7. Trim off diseased and yellowing portions. If a small portion of the plant gets sickly, simply trim it off to keep the problem from spreading.

8. Treat aphids, spider mites and many other problems with a good strong spray of water from the hose. Repeat every few days as needed.

9. Prevent powdery mildew, if that's been a problem, by spraying your rose with a mixture of 1 gallon water, 2 tbsp. baking soda, and 1 tbsp. Murphy's oil soap. Spray roses once in very early spring and then again every two weeks. Stop spraying once temperatures hit 80 degrees F.

Tips & Warnings

• It's a good idea to bring out the arsenal of pesticides only after the problem occurs. Not only will you save money and time, but you'll also be kinder to the environment. After all, some of those pesticides - even the organic ones - that kill problem insects kill beneficial insects as well.

• Don't buy a plant that has any signs of yellowing, wilting, disease or pests. If it does, the disease will simply spread to other plants in your garden.