FALL DISEASE CARE IN GARDEN ROSES
Greetings! Last week we tackled insect care for roses in the fall as part of our Fall Cleanup series and this week we are diving into disease prevention. As we welcome the cooler weather, let's chat about keeping those gorgeous roses disease-free this fall season.
It's that time of year when seasonal disease can creep back into our gardens. Whether it's powdery mildew, downy mildew, botrytis, rust or blackspot, these pesky diseases love damp conditions, so staying vigilant is key. PRO TIP: It's way easier to prevent disease than to deal with it after it settles in, so let's be proactive together!
Under ideal conditions for disease spread, such as warm temperatures, high humidity, and leaf wetness, it can take as little as 7 to 10 hours for fungal spores to infect a rose leaf. This timeframe is common for most rose diseases, such as black spot and powdery mildew. The spores need moisture on the leaf surface to germinate (so if the surface is dry they don't germinate), and extended periods of wetness, like overnight dew or rain, provide the perfect environment for the infection to take hold. Once the spore germinates and penetrates the leaf tissue, symptoms of the disease (like spots or discoloration) may appear within a few days to a week.
Here's my challenge to you this week: keep an eye out for any moisture on your roses from the early morning dew or those heavy, humid clouds above. Check the weather forecast for rain too. When you are expecting rain, dense cloud cover or you are starting to see the morning dew on your roses each day get out the day before a wet event and spray with a fungicide.
Grab some organic copper or a systemic fungicide and give your plants a spray before the moisture settles and re-apply as needed about every 5 to 10 days. The good news is all of the diseases I listed above can be treated with the same materials. This simple routine pre-treating ahead of the disease helps create a less inviting home for them to take hold.
Here are my favorite treatments for garden rose diseases:
- BioAdvanced Disease Control for Roses, Flowers and Shrubs
- Liqui-Cop Organic Copper
- Bonide Infuse Systemic Control
- Bonide Rose Shield
- Bonide Rose Rx Drench
I get it, sometimes life gets in the way and you didn't have time to get a treatment on before the the moisture creeps onto your leaves and buds. Don't worry you can do the same spray protocol with one of the fungicides listed above every 5-10 days - it just may take a little longer with more applications to suppress the disease once it's already established.
Always read the product label carefully to ensure that you are using the fungicide effectively, safely and at the correct intervals. And don't forget to take care of yourself while you're at it! Be sure to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), like gloves, a mask and eye protection, to protect yourself from exposure.
After you've sprayed for diseases make sure to clean your rose beds too. Removing old leaves and debris from the base of the plant will prevent disease spores from spreading now and into the next growing season. (We'll dive more into bed clean-up in next week's newsletter!) With these simple steps for disease control, you can help safeguard your roses and enjoy a healthier garden throughout the fall season.
HAPPY GROWING,
THE LIST: THINGS I'M LOVING THIS WEEK
- More new merchandise is making it's way into our shop for the holiday gifting season. This week everyone on my team (myself included) were SWOONING over this Wicker Flower Harvest Basket. It comes in two sizes and is perfect for harvesting roses.
- I grabbed this tea kettle with a floral motif to SPRUCE up the tea/coffee station in our nursery boutique. I'm completely smitten with it!
- I was photographing some of our NEW fresh holiday wreaths this past week that are making their way to our 2025 Holiday Wreath collection. I wanted a California ranch casual vibe and I think I nailed it. I love them! They aren't to Christmasy (yes, I made up a word) so you can put them up before Thanksgiving and leave them up through Christmas. You can catch a sneak peek here. They will be available for purchase this week on Thursday, 10/24.
- The chill is in the air and it's finally feeling like fall that means warm easy SLOW cooker dinners at mi casa. This chili has been a staple in our house for years. It's mild enough for kids that don't like too much spice. I modify it a bit and use only 1lb of ground beef and add a can of kidney beans. You can add cayenne or other spicy pepper if you like more spice. Top with sour cream, cheese and/or onions and add this one to your recipe rotation.
- On my nightstand this week is Atomic Habits. As I head into my busy season for work on the farm and all of the extras that come with the holiday season, I'm revisiting it again to help me prioritize sticking to GOOD habits so my world doesn't unravel when the holiday madness starts. If you haven't read this book yet it's a great resource that will remind you that small steps daily make the biggest impact.
Q & A: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Q: Great newsletter Felicia! As far as the David Austin English Shrub roses go, should I cut back the over 6 feet long canes on them before serious winter sets in? If I do, won't that send the signal to not go into dormancy and instead replace them with vulnerable new growth? Also I have several old garden roses (Moss roses, Mme Hardy, etc) whose canes are over 6 feet...Are these treated the same way? HELP, I'm really confused!
Nena from Stevensvillle, Montana - Zone 5b
A: Hey, Nena! Pruning roses is one of the topics I receive the most questions about—believe it or not, even more than issues with diseases or insects! So, you're not alone in feeling confused about pruning. The questions of when to prune, how to prune, and how much to prune can be overwhelming, but it's actually simpler than it seems. Generally, I recommend pruning three times a year: first, deep dormant pruning in winter; then, light shaping in summer; and finally, light shaping again in the fall.
When it comes to pruning David Austin English shrub roses, as well as all hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras, there are several important considerations to keep in mind before winter. You can lightly prune them to reduce the height and prevent the canes from whipping around in winter winds, but avoid heavy pruning in the fall. Prune only about a third of the cane length to protect the structure. A good rule of thumb is to prune between shoulder and waist height. I like to use the analogy that shape pruning is like a little bang trim rather than a full new haircut.
You are correct in thinking that heavy pruning may encourage new growth, which would be vulnerable to cold damage. Light pruning, however, will not signal the plant to produce new growth but will instead help prevent wind damage and breakage over winter. Wait until late winter or early spring (just before the new season's growth starts) for more significant pruning. This will give you time to assess winter damage and ensure the plant is ready for a fresh growing season.
Old Garden Roses, like Madame Hardy, tend to be more forgiving and thrive with minimal pruning in the fall. Similar to English shrub roses, you can slightly reduce the cane length, especially if they are particularly tall, to prevent winter damage. Significant pruning should be reserved for late winter during dormancy or early spring. Since these roses often bloom on old wood, it's important to be cautious about the extent of your fall pruning and only prune those really wild canes.
So my takeaway for you is - light pruning on all types of roses (no more than a third of the cane) is fine now to reduce height and protect the plant from winter wind, but save the heavy pruning for dormancy in late winter/early spring (depending on growing zone). This will keep them all healthy without triggering vulnerable new growth too early.
JOIN THE FUN!
Want this delivered directly to your inbox each week? CLICK HERE to subscribe to my new weekly newsletter, Growing Wonder, for simple tips on thriving roses, gardens, and homes! Each week, subscribers can submit questions for me to answer, and if yours is selected for our Q&A feature, you'll win a $25 digital gift card to the Menagerie Shop!
You can also find me on Instagram for more rose garden inspiration and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments. You can check out my favorite rose varieties and browse garden supplies at the Menagerie Shop! I also have all of things I love for my home, garden and life in easy to find collections on my Amazon Storefront and my new ShopMy Page. I truly enjoy hearing from you, so please don't hesitate to send in any questions you'd like me to answer. See ya again next Sunday!
Photos by: Jill Carmel Photography
This post may contain affiliate links. I make a small commission if you purchase a product from the link. I only recommend products I love and use in hopes they will help you too!
