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.
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.
CHEERS,
JOIN THE FUN!
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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.
Photos by: Jill Carmel Photography
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