Ward Off Your Roses Disease Factors

Roses disease is one of the biggest risk factors when you grow roses in your garden.

As the old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Happy, healthy roses are roses that never have to deal with ailments such as Japanese mildew, powdery mildew, black spot, and other icky pest and disease problems.

In order to prevent roses disease, there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of your roses falling victim to these common problems that affect roses.

Keep in mind, that although there are ways to solve roses disease problems once they start, these solutions can often be too little, too late, resulting in the need to get rid of the plant altogether and start all over again. This can be tiresome and expensive.

It is much better to simply take care to prevent the roses diseases in the first place and have healthy roses.

Four Ways to Ward Off Roses Disease Risk

Choose your roses carefully. Be a smart shopper. Choose roses that look healthy. That two-for-one deal at the end of the growing season may not be the best choice, as the roses on sale at that time of year are likely already on their way out.

It is better to pay a little bit more for a rose that you know will be successful, than to have lost money on failed "bargain" roses susceptible to roses disease.

You'll also want to find varieties that are considered low maintenance. These roses are types that are usually resilient to rosees disease and climate hardship. They will naturally fend for themselves, making it easier for you to care for them and prevent diseases.

Shrub roses tend to be the most resistant to roses diseases, as are some of the varieties of landscape roses. Hybrid tea roses, however, tend to need the most care of any rose variety, and can more easily become the prey of debilitating backyard roses disease.

Next, you'll need to plant and care for your roses properly. Properly planted and cared for roses that receive what they need are less likely to suffer from disease.

Roses need five to six hours of sunlight per day (there are shade tolerant varieties that can get by in partial shade, with three to four hours), and about an inch of water per week.

Make sure that watering is done deeply so that it reaches the roots. Roses are thirsty plants, in part because they need so much sunlight. Even though they need lots of water, however, roses do not like standing water.

Improper drainage around your rose plant can lead to rot and black spot. Also, water in the morning so that leaves have time to dry throughout the day. This will prevent fungal diseases from developing.

Make sure that you have a good compost or well rotted manure that you use in planting (a little bone meal is also a good additive) and that you carefully follow the planting direction that come with the plant.

Mulch around your roses. Mulch will keep the soil down, preventing soil born roses disease from getting on your plant. As an added bonus, mulch will slow weed growth.

The best mulches are organic mulches that protect in two ways: keeping down roses disease from the soil, and also providing more nutrients to the roses, helping them remain healthy enough to ward off other rose diseases.

Good mulches to use are pine needles, wood chips, and grass clippings. These mulches should be applied in a one to two inch thick layer.

Finally, trim the rose plants regularly. Rose pruning is a good way to improve the overall health and appearance of the plants. Additionally, regularly check for yellowing or diseased parts of the rose plants. Trimming off areas that are affected immediately can help you prevent the disease from spreading. This will allow you to head off disease and still save the plant.

Three Easy Way to Rid Roses of Mildew

Mildew is the bane of all dedicated rosarians. The most common type of mildew is powdery mildew, which is caused by the sphaerotheca pannosa rosae fungus.

Powdery mildew is characterized by white or grayish powdery growth on the leaves, shoots, buds, and sometimes even appears on the petals of rose bushes. These small patches of mildew spread in white strands across the plant�s foliage. As the fungus draws moisture and nutrients from the leaves, the leaves will begin to crinkle and fall.

Powdery mildew seems to thrive on hot, dry weather. Direct overhead watering during the midday may actually help the plant by breaking up spores that are released during the day. Fungicides may also be effective, although their application must be well timed in order to be effective.

The other most common type of mildew is downy mildew. Downy mildew is caused by the peronospora sparsa fungus.

Unlike powdery mildew, downy mildew thrives on moist and humid conditions. Downy mildew is most commonly observed under the leaves of the plant. Other characteristics include purple, red, or brown spots on leaves, usually followed by yellowing of the leaves, then loss of leaves.

Downy mildew is hard to control. Fungicides are not very effective, although regular pruning for increased air circulation and reduction of humidity can be helpful.

If you prefer to garden without the use of harsh fungicides, here are three easy ways to rid your prized roses of these common types of mildew...

Prune, prune, prune! Rose pruning is one of the easiest ways to keep your plants healthy and vigorous, and to prevent the formation of mildew on your prized roses. After you prune, be sure to carefully dispose of the rose debris by either burning it or sealing it in a bag so it cannot spread disease.
Water your roses carefully. Your watering practices are crucial in preventing the growth and spread of mildew. To prevent mildew, water your roses well at the root level, especially during hot weather. Try to keep water from getting and settling onto leaves, particularly before night falls. Most importantly, make sure you water regularly. Rose plants that receive insufficient water at the root level will become dehydrated. Dehydration is one of the most common triggers of mildew fungi.
Try concocting this easy home remedy for your roses. Some gardeners swear by the power of stinging nettle. Make a stinging nettle spray by gathering stinging nettle, placing them in a sack or old pillowcase, and crushing the leaves. Place the bag in a bucket of water and let sit in a warm location for roughly a week. When it�s time, strain the stinging nettle concentrate, and dilute it with five parts water. Pour this solution into a spray bottle and use it on your rose plants once every two weeks.

If you don�t have access to stinging nettles, try this easy to make baking soda-based solution for fighting off mildew. You will need the following ingredients:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 gallon of water
- 1 tsp regular-flavored Listerine
- 1 tbsp liquid soap
- 1.5 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp vinegar
Mix one cup of water with baking soda, soap, Listerine, and vinegar. Add these ingredients into one gallon of water, and pour the solution into a plant sprayer. Make sure to shake well so the ingredients combine. Spray your rose bushes, saturating them thoroughly.

The bottom line is that�with the proper care and love�your roses don't have to have that dreaded roses disease. You CAN prevent rose diseases from plaguing your garden. Practice the tips found here and you are sure to have healthy roses!