Pests and diseases.

The first tip in growing roses, is to buy healthy ones.
What to look for:
1, check for healthy shoots, shiny leaves, with no damaged branches.
2. read what is said about the particular variety or growing habit of your intended purchase. Does it have the characteristics you require in terms of type of rose, colour, scent. Will it fit into the spot in your garden you intend it to occupy? Is it a ‘disease resistant’ variety? Are particular aspects regarding sun, shade, soil composition recommended for it.

Follow the advice already given concerning the position and planting of your rose.
Most roses are planted in either the Autumn or Spring, So it is important to check that the rose behaving normally for the time of year. An autumn planted rose, should maintain its growth and no evidence of ‘die back’ should be present. In milder conditions, some growth should be seen.
With your rose planted in the Spring, the leaf buds should be in evidence and should continue to grow.  One way of checking on the health of your rose is to look at the leaves on a regular basis.

Check for Black Spot, making sure that the leaves do not have black spots on them, as this is a difficult disease to eradicate and may affect other roses in your garden. Black spot is a very common disease, it affects leaves, and if left unchecked will eventually cause the growing rose bud branches to die back, and the plant will be denuded of leaves. Black spot saps the energy of the plant making it more vulnerable to other conditions if not treated. It is more common in wetter climates. The condition can be treated by the use of sprays readily available in garden centres and nurseries. Always follow the directions, do not overuse, and if using a spray solution which is mixed by you as the gardener, make sure that you discard safely any remaining spray left in the bottle, and remake the solution for each application. Always keep chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.

Another condition affecting your rose could be the appearance of purple spots on the leaves, these are usually much smaller than Black Spot and usually indicate a deficiency of nutrients in the soil or the use of copper-based sprays. Where purple spots are in evidence, it is wise to use a rose fertiliser, there are many brands to choose from and to also apply a peat mulch around the base of the rose which should cure this problem.

Rust is another problem, first spotted on the leaves of the rose. This is a serious condition which if left can prove fatal to your rose. Rust appears as orange spots on the underside of the leaf, they turn black in late summer. You will then notice that the new shoots are dying back and that the rose is not making new growth. It is important to be alert to rust as it is a condition which occurs in particular weather sequences. For example, when the weather is particularly cold in spring when the earth and temperature should be warming up, a lack of water in a dry summer, hard and cold winters all encourage the prevalence of rust, as the weather conditions give the rose a hard time surviving. To help the rose, ensure that the rose receives a good helping of potash around its roots.

Mildew is another common problem again caused by difficult growing conditions, or neglect. Mildew is a white powdery substance on the leaves, which then curl, crinkle and drop off. It is often seen on bushes where dense growth has been allowed to form in the middle and thereby restricting the flow of air around the branches. Ensure that the roots are regularly watered and that air is allowed to circulate around and through the plant.

All of these conditions can be treated by products readily available, usually in spray form. Look for the ingredient Systhane as an effective chemical which can control the above conditions, but nothing works better than good care. Whilst prevention is not possible even with the hardiest of roses in certain climates and conditions, ensuring that sufficient nutrients have been added to the soil in winter and spring, regular watering in the summer, efficient pruning and dead-heading are the best measures to prevent any of these conditions affecting the health and vitality of your roses.