A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems unusual rose problem

I’m having an unusual problem with some of my roses, and I’m wondering if there’s something I did wrong that I need to change. I buy disease resistant roses, and I don’t spray them routinely – only on the somewhat rare occasions when I see a little fungal disease on them. Usually there’s only a little mildew or rust in autumn when the weather becomes cooler and moister. This spring, my roses started out putting out healthy looking foliage as usual, then several of them suddenly went downhill, with an unusual amount of mildew and, in some cases, rust. Some of them also just look less healthy in general than they did at first, with yellowing or discoloration of leaves.

Maybe it’s just an unusually fungus-prone spring in our area (east end of the San Francisco Bay Area near the CA central valley, zone 9), but I’m wondering if it’s more. The only things we’ve done differently than usual are: 1) I recently started giving my roses liquid Miracle Grow plant food (to tide them over until I get time to give them their usual granular rose & flower food plus some other things). 2) We recently sprayed some of them for some mildew we saw starting on them (which we don’t normally need to do in spring).

Is it possible that either the Miracle Grow or the fungal spray had gone bad? They were left over from last year. The fungal spray was stored in the garage, and the Miracle Grow was stored outside on the patio. Or is there something else anyone can think of that might explain this? Thanks for any insight anyone can give.

I don't think the problem is outdated food or spray. I use much older stuff than that. We have had a wetter year than the last few. It could be that they are just more prone to fungal problems this year. Your county extension will have better answers for you than I can come up with.

Well goodmorning there carolyn and tina!

CarolynB if you are worried about the spray ad fertilizer gone bad you should check the date on the bottole or go to the website and write the costumer service and ask them same thing for the fungal spray... I agree with tina I don't think it is anything you have done to your roses it justmight have been wet their or the morning fog has been bad... I know here we get alot of dew and my roses get some yellow leaves i just pluck them off!

You should pluck off the yellow leaves because the fungus can spread when it raind or if you water overhead. You should bag up the leaves and throw them away and keep the leaves away from the other leaves because it will spread... Now I use bayer rose advanced care concentrate on my roses I think tina who is the person who commented above me, it fertilizes and treats your rose systemically which will dramatically reduce its proness to fugus and diseases and also pests! the concentrate will run at about 15.00+ and the granular form around 6.00+ i would go with the concentrate you do dilute it but it gets to the roots quicker than the granular. But this enough is not enough to prevent the yellow leaves and some bits of black spot a little bit of spraying treatment may be needed..

But i can not stress enough only water at the base of your roses please!


oh also you should go the epsom salt website you know epsom salt what we use to soak sores or put in baths that stuff is very good for plants i just don't know how much to tell u to use for your roses thats why i say go to thier website but you can use it on roses and just about anything else...

You have a great day! And i hope your roses perk up for you!

Hi, I know you have fungus, because I have the same thing, although fungus is more prone in red roses,you must pick up every leaf what has fungus off the rose bush, It will not effect the qaulity off your roses. I dont forget to pick up the leaves that have fallen down onto the soil.

Fungal spores stay on the ground around your roses as well. It's hard to beat....You have to make sure you pick up and destroy every leaf that falls(do not put them in your compost but in the garbage)

I've once had to cut my roses right down to the ground, spray and wait. they did come back nice and healthy.