Question
The leaves on my rose are getting spotty. What does it need?
Answer
Your rose appears to have a mild case of a fungal disease called “black spot”. If that’s correct, those diseased leaves will turn yellow, then drop. Even though Easy Elegance® roses are bred for superior disease resistance, environmental stresses such as prolonged rain can still result in mild outbreaks. Since only a few leaves are infected I’d start by cutting those off and disposing of them on a dry day- but do not compost them as they will have fungal spores on them. Likewise the spores can overwinter on fallen leaves and re-infect the plant next spring so be sure to clean up any leaves that may drop too.
To reduce the chances of re-infection, clean your pruners with disinfectant after use and consider one of several treatments.
- Baking soda spray: dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a quart of warm water, then add up to 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. Spray this on the leaves to help prevent further outbreaks. This is not a treatment for fungal spot, but rather a preventative application.
- Fungicides: ask at your local garden center or nursery for a suitable product. Read the label carefully and apply on a non-windy day.
It’s also worth reviewing the ideal conditions for growing roses as healthy conditions makes for healthy plants.