Mould on rose leaves

[Suspect Sprout]

I think some of my rose climbers have a touch if mould on them. I assume this is because of the rain and less than sunny weather we're having at the moment?

Should I do anything or just leave them be?

The plants look quite happy and not as though they're about to die!

[SueA]

Hi Suspect, it depends what the mould looks like. If it's black splodges on the leaves it could be black spot & you can either spray with chemical or organic sprays, but it's quite late in the season to do this now, or just cut off & destroy the affected leaves & any that have fallen off as they will carry the fungus till next year. If it's white coloured mould it's probably powdery mildew & I'd do the same, cut off the worst affected leaves & give the roses a good feed & water. They'll probably recover & be fine next year but if it's black spot it will no doubt come back again.

[Suspect Sprout]

No it's not black spot, its white and powdery looking, do I really need to cut off the leaves? as there's quite a few

[SueA]

If it's a lot of the leaves then you may as well leave them, they will probably drop off if it's that bad. Powdery mildew is usually caused by plants being 'overcrowded' & too hot & dry, so maybe your roses need a bit of pruning & lots of water & T.L.C.

[nick the grief]

Give them a good feed & some well rotted muck in the autumn & they'll have enough vigour to cope.

Next year try giving them a foiliar seaweed feed a cuple of time that will help a the moisture will see of the mildew.

[Suspect Sprout]

I wonder if it's the heat as they've been well looked after, watered and are not over crowded. I'll leave and see what happens

[bramble]

Article in the daily Express today says, pick all the affected leaves up from the ground and from the rose bush and burn or dispose of them (anything except compost them) and then water the roots and spray the bush with Jayes Fluid.

[Kathie]

Hi, S Sprout, Just a 'tip' for your roses-and it works! Put Banana skins at the bottom of the roses and sprinkle soil over them (To stop little flies) they will feed your roses (I think it is Potash- or something like that) The skins rot down eventually and then you just rake them around the roots.