You are in luck! There is a member here on HomeTalk that is a master landscaper and can probably help you out. He's Douglas Hunt : http://www.hometalk.com/member/o0ocpyc5gb and has been very helpful to a lot of members. Best wishes, JL
Blackspot usually results in defoliation, Victoria, not in the plant falling over. But it is a nasty thing and can quickly spread through an entire rose garden, as you have unfortunately seen. Defoliation brought on by blackspot is worst during wet weather, especially humid weather (which, of course, you have very little of in Georgia-LOL!). Once blackspot is present, new spores generate
...»
every three weeks and can overwinter in the garden, so autumn cleanup is crucial or the entire process will repeat itself next year. Once you have discovered that your rose bushes are infected it is best to prune off the damaged parts of the plant and gather the diseased foliage. Dispose of this diseased material in bags or burn it. Do not add it to your compost! You will then need to apply a fungicide, as frequently as every seven to 10 days if you have wet weather. At the end of the season, rake and dispose of old leaves and prune out blackspot-infected stems.
If you have had a problem with blackspot on these roses before, you may want to consider replacing them with blackspot-resistant varieties, as that, and meticulous horticultural practices, are the best defense against the disease.
I suggest you check out this article from Ohio State University Extension. It lists blackspot-resistant varieties, but keep in mind that there are localized strains of the disease, so you may want to consult with your local nursery or rose society as well. Good luck!
A fellow Master Gardener is also a rosarian. She has taught me a great deal about rose gardening in Georgia. The blackspot can become immune to a fungicide. Therefore it is best to use one fungicide for only two or three consecutive sprayings, Then alternate with a different one that also id labeled to treat blackspot. I start the season by raking up and discarding the mulch and any leaf debris from my rose beds/gardens. Then I use Bayer 3 in 1 rose liquid or granular. At the first
...»
sight of the dreaded blackspot I start spraying every 7-10 days.. I have beaten the blackspot and the Japanese beetles, but not the 100 year rain that we had almost every day last year. About 20 of my roses "drowned". I have mostly antique roses and hybrid teas and all 50 or so are thriving . You can also give your roses in spring and summer a concoction of Epsom salts, chelated iron, bbloom booster and fish emulsion for the most spetacular blooms in your neighborhood. I am going to try Walter's suggestion of the Bonide Infuse this year.
Blackspot usually results in defoliation, Victoria, not in the plant falling over. But it is a nasty thing and can quickly spread through an entire rose garden, as you have unfortunately seen. Defoliation brought on by blackspot is worst during wet weather, especially humid weather (which, of course, you have very little of in Georgia-LOL!). Once blackspot is present, new spores generate ...»
If you have had a problem with blackspot on these roses before, you may want to consider replacing them with blackspot-resistant varieties, as that, and meticulous horticultural practices, are the best defense against the disease.
I suggest you check out this article from Ohio State University Extension. It lists blackspot-resistant varieties, but keep in mind that there are localized strains of the disease, so you may want to consult with your local nursery or rose society as well. Good luck!
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/pdf/30...