Guest Author - Sue MacNeil

Roses are beautiful flowers - but they are also prone to disease. Here are some easy tips to help you keep your roses disease free and beautiful.

Start with a Resistant Rose
It makes sense – starting with roses that are labeled as disease resistant will save you a lot of work and grief down the road. Many roses these days are specially produced to resist Black Spot, Rust, and Mildew.

Be A Smart Buyer
The first line of defense against disease starts at the nursery, garden center, or home store. Be choosey about the plants you buy. Don't be afraid to examine them carefully from all sides. Avoid any that are showing any signs of disease such as yellow leaves, mushy canes, spots, and deformed blooms.

Take Care of your Plants
No plant is maintenance free. Give your roses the conditions they need to be happy and healthy. This means plenty of sunlight (6 hours a day is optimum), regular watering, and nutrient rich soil. If you have several rose bushes, make sure they have plenty of space between them. Plants are like people. The healthier they are, the more able they are to fight off disease.

Water the Roots
Many rose problems are cause by wet leaves. Never water at night! Always water in the morning so the leave have a chance to dry thoroughly. Don't water at midday either. The sun is very strong then and it can actually burn wet leaves. If you can avoid getting the leave wet all together, you're better off. When you do water, try to water the base of the plants so the water goes straight to the roots where it's needed most.

Prune your Plant
Rose bushes need to be pruned to stay looking their best. Removing dead and crowded canes promotes air circulation, which helps prevent fungal diseases, and allows the plants to get more light as well.

Keep an Eye Out
This is perhaps the most important tip of all. Pay attention to your roses! Get in the habit of checking them over carefully each time you water. Look closely at the canes and the leaves themselves, including the undersides. The sooner you find a problem, the easier it'll be to deal with!

Act Quickly
If you do find a problem act quickly! Most diseases can be treated easily with a fungicide or by simply removing the diseased parts. The key is to do so as soon as the problem is discovered. Sadly, if the problem doesn't respond to treatment, it's best to remove the diseased plant and get rid of it to avoid any spread of disease.