Gardeners may find that their roses are affected by black spot, a fungal disease that can be a major detriment to your flowers’ health and longevity
With autumn drawing ever closer, and many flowers preparing to cease blooming, keeping on top of garden maintenance has never been more crucial. Gardeners may well find themselves confronted with a number of unwelcome and unsightly problems affecting their plants and flowers.
Gardening expert and TikTok creator Michael Griffiths has issued a warning to gardeners about a plant disease that could be wreaking havoc on their plants, with September being the ideal time to address the problem. In a recent video, Michael outlined a series of gardening tasks that fellow green-fingered enthusiasts should be carrying out this month, ranging from lawn preparation to tackling unsightly fungal diseases.
One such concern is black spot, a fungal disease that can pose a serious threat to the health and lifespan of your flowers.
In the video, he said: “Check roses for black spot and remove anything that’s affected.”
What is rose black spot?
For those unfamiliar with the condition, rose black spot is a fungal disease in which affected blooms develop purple and black spots on their leaves, ultimately causing them to drop prematurely.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, where leaves are infected, the markings will typically appear in spring, persisting over time and potentially causing significant damage to plants.
In addition to the purple and black spots, further symptoms of the disease include yellowing of leaf tissue, leaf drop, and small, black, scabby lesions that may emerge on young stems. There is also the possibility of finding signs of powdery mildew.
How to eliminate rose black spot
Michael’s removal technique is remarkably straightforward to implement. If the disease is confined to a single area, such as the foliage, all that is required is to pinch off any leaves showing signs of black spot.
If you prefer not to use your hands to remove the diseased leaves, you can employ a pair of secateurs instead. Secateurs must then be cleaned thoroughly to minimise any risk of transmitting the disease.
If you notice any affected leaves on the ground, collect them. In an earlier video on the subject, Michael said: “You can pull (the leaves) in the opposite direction to the growth to easily remove them by hand.”
Everything that you collect or remove must be destroyed; do not add it to your compost heap. To minimise the chances of your roses developing black spot again, follow these steps: Prune at the appropriate time, in an open bowl configuration to an outward-facing bud to lessen the likelihood of mould, mildew and black spot establishing themselves.
Water thoroughly so the plant does not become stressed. Apply mulch to approximately three inches depth, retaining moisture and inhibiting weeds.
If the disease is especially severe, you may discover that flowers and plants will shed all of their foliage. Nevertheless, if you have observed that the black spot has spread throughout the plant, you may need to take more drastic measures to maintain the health of the roses.
Gardening expert Ish recommended using a bicarbonate of soda solution to tackle fungal disease. In a spray bottle, combine one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with 500ml of water.
Mix the solution thoroughly and apply a light mist to any plants suffering from powdery mildew or fungal infections on a weekly basis.
Gently spray the plant every week or so, and the solution should eliminate the black spot. This mixture creates a natural antifungal spray capable of targeting mould, black spot, and powdery mildew.
A small dash of washing-up liquid can also be added to the spray. This helps the solution adhere to the plants’ leaves more effectively.
As an antifungal agent, bicarbonate of soda alters the pH level on the leaf’s surface, rendering it less acidic and less hospitable to black spot fungus. The washing-up liquid assists the solution in spreading and sticking to the leaves, ensuring greater coverage across their surface.
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