Diseased roses

Lyn Plant-Wells

Having moved to present house in April, the garden has taken a back seat (much interior work ongoing)  I have inherited several roses in the south facing front garden. Some are climbers - in large containers situated against fence in driveway and some in borders. They have flowered profusely but now have dreadful blackspot/rust?  Some leaves are completely brownish black and they all look very sickly. I will be re-designing the front and back gardens and wonder whether to put the container roses into the ground somewhere. They are quite small and quite straggly,  although having

 

flowered well earlier in the summer. I think a most of the roses are quite old and some seem much too tall (see pic) Would you advise cutting them right down then making sure they are fed/treated with Roseclear/Multirose etc in Spring?  How much could I safely prune them back? The rose above is approx 7' tall. They look ok in these pics but they were taken in early July.  Any advice much appreciated! 

 

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Logan

At the moment just dead head them to the next bud in October cut them by half or more if they are very tall. In spring prune them again.

Lyn Plant-Wells

Ok will do. I do try to keep up with the dead-heading. The tall rose in the 1st pic has produced a 2nd flush of flowers. Does the treatment you suggest go for the straggly potted climbers too?

Logan

Yes treat the bush ones the same but the climers just dead head and cut out some of the old wood. With the black spot and rust in spring put a thick layer of mulch around them to stop the spores from the soil getting on the leaves, if you want to spray get a systemic one and spray every two weeks, but I don't spray at all

Logan

You could leave the ones in containers must make sure they don't dry out and feed them like the other's

Lyn Plant-Wells

Thanks very much for the advice. Very grateful!