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Do you spray your roses?

CraighBCraighB Posts: 734
in Plants
Hi guys,

I have some David Austin roses in containers in my garden and I noticed today my new Munstead Wood that was planted in the Autumn was starting to get a little black spot.

My first reaction was to reach for the Rose clear spray and just before I pressed the trigger I could hear Monty's voice in my head telling me that lots of wildlife will be affected by doing it and it upsets to food chain! Many tv gardener's say the same thing! Yet DA roses and many other websites tell you to spray.

So I wondered how many other people spray their roses and does it really have a big impact on wildlife by doing so?

Thanks
Craigh
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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,136
    I don't spray.   Remove affected foliage and put it in the general waste bin or burn it on the fire if you have one.   Just dropping the foliage on the ground will leave the spores active to infect more leaves and roses.

    If your rose is well fed (but not overfed) and watered it will fight off problems by itself and any aphids will be hoovered up by predators.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,366
    No I dont bother spraying roses for black spot or for anything else, I pick off affected leaves. Mulching also helps and removing all fallen leaves and old leaves.
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 734
    That's good to hear because that's just what I did. It was mainly on the smaller lower leaves so I removed them and put them in the bin so hopefully I will stop the spread.

    I think it is quite difficult to change your mindset in regards to reaching for the chemicals straight the way and thinking about nature and wildlife first! But im so glad I stopped myself spraying them.
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 734
    As mine are in containers what could I mulch them with? I don't really like using grit as I think it looks a little ugly underneath the roses. What about well rotted manure that comes in bags from the garden centre?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,136
    That would be good as it would add nutrients which roses need and also help retain moisture.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 268
    edited April 2019
    This year I have used small pine bark nuggets (~5p sized) from Melcourt on top of a manure mulch in my  containers. They float up and resettle whilst watering without leaving a crater, which is rather neat. I have gone off sprays this year. Nevertheless,  I always made it a point of using separate products for fungus and bug (both readily available), as opposed to using a combined product. No point killing the bugs when you're fighting a fungal infection!
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 734
    @Alchemist What products are available that only fight fungus and not bugs?
  • AlchemistAlchemist Posts: 268
    @CraighB Bayer fungus fighter is one I know of. Comes in RTU and concentrate form. 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    If you live in an area where blackspot is a big problem - just look over the fence at neighbours' gardens to find out - try a product called Sulphure Rose.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,136
    You can also make your own if you have horsetail in your garden.   Pull or hoe off the strands above ground and soak for a week or two in a bucket of water - covered.   Strain and dilute before use and it will act as a fungicide.   Good against rusts too.

    I've seen it on sale in the organic sections of plant shops here so looked it up.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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