Save Your Roses from Black Spot

Select Resistant Varieties

While no rose is truly black-spot proof, many varieties resist this fungal disease far better than others. New landscape roses (Knock Out family, Easy Elegance series) are excellent for clean foliage. Other resistant varieties include:

• Bonica
• Carefree Beauty
• Carefree Wonder
• Cuddles
• Playboy
• Simplicity
• The Fairy
• Topaz Jewel

Click here to learn proper rose pruning.

Keep a Clean Garden

Black spot spreads rapidly when diseased leaves fall. Remove infected leaves before they drop or right after they fall to prevent major outbreaks. Clean up all fallen leaves in fall. Note: Throw infected leaves in the trash, not compost, to prevent disease spread.

Plant Properly

Still air encourages disease. Site roses where air flows freely. Avoid planting too closely or against walls/structures. Keep roses pruned for a loose, open habit.

Water Sensibly

Wet leaves encourage fungal diseases, including black spot. Water with a soaker hose delivering water directly to roots—this prevents disease and saves money by reducing evaporation.

Use a Fungicide

Most fungicides won't cure established black spot but excel at prevention. Spray before problems appear. Both chemical and organic (neem-based) fungicides work. Black spot spreads fastest in warm, wet weather—spray at the start of such cycles to keep disease from appearing.