Rose Diseases and Pests

Don't let rose diseases and pests spoil YOUR beautiful rose garden!

Roses can be bothered by a number of different diseases and a host of insect problems! Mother nature, and your own particular climate can be to blame for most of them.

When starting your garden, choose plants wisely! Try to grow ones that are less susceptible to these problems.

Plant ones that resist some of the common rose problems such as black spot and powdery mildew.

Keep your plants healthy! They will be less susceptible to insect attacks and diseases.

For information on caring for rose bushes keep reading...

Fungal Problems

Black Spot

Extremely common fungal disease. Most roses will have at least a little black spot by late summer. This disease infects the foliage with black rounded spots with feathered margarins. When it becomes severly infected, the leaves turn yellow and drop off.

A rainy day or wet foliage overnight allows infection to start. Although it can occur in any region, it is most typical in regions with higher rainfall.

To keep your roses totally free of this fungal, you would have to be on a regular fungicidal spray schedule.

It would be wise to choose roses that had excellent resistance to black spot.

Remove infected leaves to another part of the garden to keep from spreading the infection. Spores overwinter on fallen leaves and infected stems. Avoid watering from above. The splashing water will spread the disease to neighboring plants.

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Crown Gall

Crown gall appears as a large corky growth at the base of the plant,and on stems and roots. It can be as big as several inches in diameter.

These galls will seldom kill the plant. They will however cause the plant to become weak and sickly, with slowed growth and yellowing leaves. Entire branches could die back.

It is causes by a bacterium in the soil. You can not eliminate it from the plant, but you should prune out and dispose of the galled stems.

Be sure to disinfect your pruning shears with some chlorine bleach after each cut.

Downy Mildew

Also causes gray, fuzzy growth on the underside of the leaves. Infected leaves may turn yellow and drop off quickly.

Severe case of this fungus will weaken the rose.

Cool temperatures and high humidity is usually the cause.

Spray with a fungicide every 7-10 days for prevention.

Remove and discard any infected leaves.

Rust

These rust spores overwinter on fallen leaves. The bush becomes less vigorous, and the plant becomes more prone to winterkill. Rose diseases like this occur most often in cooler temperatures and require wet conditions to infect foliage.

Powdery Mildew

This commom rose disease appears as powdery white or light gray patches on the leaves. Severe infections can cause young leaves to twist and become distorted.

Powdery Mildew do not need wet foliage to develop. It is more common on roses that are shaded to much.

Although many of your flower plants can be affected by powdery mildew (Phlox,Lilacs,Zinna) this is not the same fungus that effects your roses. Each is a plant-specific species of this fungus!

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More Rose Diseases

Stem Canker

Usually noticed in the Spring during pruning time. The lower part of the cane is green and healthy, while the top is brown, black or purple.

Fungi enters the plant at a wound in the cane, usually during wet or humid weather.

There is no chemical control for this.

Cut off and dispose of the cankered canes. Cut as much as 5 inches below the infected area, using sharp shears, and dipping in chlorine bleach or alcohol to stop the spread of this rose disease.

Help to avoid rose diseases.

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Insect Problems

Caring for rose bushes includes "Knowing Your Enemy"

If you see an insect, you should identify it before attacking it! It could be just a harmless bystander, or it could be a benefical bug! The majority of the bugs in your garden ARE beneficial.

The (GOOD BUGS) prey on damaging insects , which is in turn helpful in reducing the pest population. Lady bugs for example, the adults and their larve, feed on aphids. Praying mantis, Green Lacewings, and predatory wasps are also beneficial bugs.

I don't like using chemical sprays in my garden, because of the potential harm to the beneficial insects. A heavy stream of water, insecticidal soap,or neem oil is usually prety effective to control a wide range of insects. Gardens Alive Pyola spray is a wonderful organic spray that will eliminate lots of insects!

Pyola^® Insect Spray

Aphids

Aphids (or) plant lice, are tiny but visible green insects that form colonies or clusters along the flower buds and the stems. Appearing in mid to late spring, they multiply rapidly,appearing in large numbers. They suck the vital juices from the rose, as they excrete a sticky substance called honeydew.

Lady bugs, if present in the garden will eat them, but if you have serious infestations, spray the plant with a strong stream of water from your garden hose, once or twice a day. You could also treat with insecticidal soap.

Borers

The borers tunnel into the cane, hollowing it out and killing the shoot. If you slice open the cane, you will see white/yellowish worms that are up to 3/4 inches long.

Cut and dispose of the infested rose stem. Cut several inches below the point where the stem is swollen.

Japanese Beetles

Dark green and copper colored beetle can be very destructive! They often skelitize the leaves and do major damage to flowers and buds.

In my area, they usually appear mid July. I hand pick them, dropping them in a plastic bucket of soapy water. I continue to search for a better way to be rid of the nasty creatures! (Alas!! Try Pyola Insect Spray (Note: Do not use on days when temperature exceeds 90 degrees.)

Lots of Organic products for your garden including Live lady Bugs! Check them out!