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Downy Mildew Rose Fungus

Rose Bush Disease

Downy Mildew is a common rose fungus that will cause significant defoliation of your rose plants. This fungus affects roses throughout the U.S. It is most prevalent in the Spring, in moist coastal regions of California, and the Pacific Northwest.

Symptoms:

Young leaves develop dark purplish to dark brown spots. The spots/blotches are defined by leaf veins on the upper surface of the leaf. The symptoms sometimes look like burns.

Infected leaves may turn yellow, and will often drop off quickly once the infection appears.

Collect and discard infected leaves (Do not compost them)

Downy mildew can also affect the stems of the roses.

This rose fungus requires high humidity (over 85%) and cool temperatures to start. Spring time is perfect weather for this rose bush disease to take hold. It is a good idea to check your plants regulary to identify problems early on.
Follow recommendations on this site about choosing Disease resistent Roses Organic Roses Planting Roses

Also check out Pruning Rose Bushes Rose Fertilizer

Solutions to this problem

If you've had problems with Downy Mildew in the past, you should begin spraying with This Organic Copper Spray when new Spring growth appears.

Repeat every 7-10 days for as long as needed to control the disease. This flowable liquid Copper is helpful for a wide range of plant diseases such as powdery mildew, rusts, blackspot, leaf and fruit spot, downy mildew, and more!

Look here for The Perfect Spray Guide for Roses to keep your roses healthy all season! Go Green, and use Organic products on your roses, as I do!

Good Garden Hygiene

Some tips for good garden hygine that could help you avoid problems.

Choose disease resistant plants, and limit your plants from influences that help spread the disease.
Having good air circulation around the plants help to keep the plants dry, and keep disease spores at bay. Space plants so they are not to close to one another, and do not allow them to grow in to one another as they get large.
Remove weeds that harbor diseases such as mildew and black spot, as well as Japanese beetles and Leafhoppers
Prune, and remove diseases canes and leaves
Water at ground level, to avoid wetting leaves. If you must water from above, do it early enough in the day so the leaves have time to dry before night

Drip irrigation is the best way to water your roses. It puts the water right at the roots of the plants without the spashing that causes many problems for the rose bushes.

Mulching also prevents water from splashing onto plants and contaminating them with disease spores from the ground.

Go Back to Rose Diseases and Pests from Downy Mildew

Go To Black Spot on Roses

Go to Rose Aphids

Go to all about rose gardening Home page

Follow this Organic "Spray Guide" for beautiful, healthy roses

Subscribe to my occasional News Letter for tips and advice on growing roses organically,along with some rose crafts and even recipes! You'll find new roses and old favorites. Simply "All" about rose gardening!