I tried soap shield from gardensalive. I had to cut 2 bushes completely down since the first application about a month ago. Almost every morning I pick off any infected leaves on the other bushes. So far, only 2 of my 7 bushes haven't been affected. I water only in the morning. I have a very thin layer of hardwood mulch on the bed. Could that be the problem?

I'm reluctantly considering resorting to chemicals. I applied soap shield again the day before yesterday, after picking off all the infected leaves (and that's a lot of picking with all the bushes we have). I noticed more blackspot yesterday and today. I'm at a loss for how I can keep it from recurring constantly. I wouldn't mind some spots on my leaves, but I've seen it spread over an entire bush and we had to cut it to the ground.

Please help!

* * * *

I have pretty good soil, but if I had to put a label on it, I'd say it's more clay than sand surrounding them. I did plant them in miracle grow soil for roses. I used some rose food from wally world once about a month ago. Not sure what the numbers are, but it was specifically for roses. I put a handful down around the base - being careful not to touch the bush, and watered in. That was the only time I fertilized.

This is the first year for the bed. They're all newly planted roses, except for one of the 2 I had to cut to the ground. It's a rambling rose (I think) and is already showing new growth. No blackspot so far on it. I put new hardwood mulch down after planting the others. I have it surrounding the bushes, but not touching it at all. The only thing planted among the roses are mums...but they're not close enough to touch them at all. They don't touch each other, either. Well, the ones with the black spot don't. The 2 that haven't gotten it do I do have landscape fabric below the mulch. I'm thinking may be I should pull it all up, including the mulch, and just top dress with compost. (I love my compost! LOL) Think that'd help?

* * * *

Thanks Papito. I've been thinking I should probably get a soaker hose for the roses. Even though I water in the morning, and water at the base, I know some water has to be getting on the leaves. I've hand-picked every last leaf off the ground ... but will double and triple check to make sure they're all gone now.

Yesterday we hacked them up pretty good. cut off every last leaf with signs of blackspot, and took off all leaves on the lower 6-12" of the canes, and cut out any crossing canes and made sure the middle was open on each of them... Then sprayed again with soap shield. I hope it works! Thanks for the advice - I wasn't looking forward to pulling it back up

* * * *

Do you fertilize your roses regularly, Mary?

I mix my own rose fertilizer:
2 parts alfalfa meal
2 parts fish meal
2 parts dried blood
1 part bone meal
1 part cottonseed meal
1 part rock phosphate
1 part greensand

Every month during the growing season, water your roses, then apply 1 to 3 cups of this fertilizer to each plant, keeping it off the rose stem. Work the fertilizer into the top inch of the soil with a trowel or cultivator and water the roses again.

If the roses are flourishing, 1 cup is enough, but if the plants are extra large or look like they're struggling, give them 2 or 3 cups.

Since I've been using this fertlizer, I have much healthier foliage and almost no insect damage (except for some worms late last fall) and no black spot.

Note: if you have a lot of cats around, you might want to leave out the fish meal as the cats will then dig all around your rose bush.

* * * *

Terry

May the force be with you

I buy my fertilizers from a local organic farm. (Seven Springs Farm) They have a Community Supported Agriculture Garden where people buy shares of the produce which are available weekly throughout the growing season. Working shares are also available for a reduced price.

They have a ton of organic fertilizers, sprays, and some garden supplies.

www.7springsfarm.com

They will ship by Priority Mail or Parcel Post. UPS also, but it's more expensive.

Also, Mellinger's carries a lot of this stuff.
www.Mellinger's.com

It would save a lot of money in shipping though, if you could find a local supplier. When I lived in West Virginia, there was an Amish farmer nearby (near Oakland, MD) who sold organic fertilizers.

* * * *

Terry

May the force be with you

And remember Mary,
A good rule of thumb for fertilizing in your growing zone is....
May 1st, June 1st, July 1st and August 1st...
Nothing past August...

After that time, you want your plants to start
going nightie~night for those long cold winters!!!

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

That's correct, and for gardeners further south, make that September 1 for the middle zones and October 1 for the warmest zones. However, after all growth has stopped I've read to fertilize with 1/4 cup of greensand per plant (after the first frost, but before the ground freezes). This is the time for your fall application of Holly-Tone also (for your acid loving trees and shrubs)

* * * *

Terry

May the force be with you