fungus on rose bush leaves

Question

The rose bush is at least 35 years old. Each year since we have lived here (32 yrs), it blooms throughout the summer(I deadhead it), the yellow/black leaves appear as the first blooms open & continue until fall (by then, some of the roses are also infected). I don't want to get rid of the rose bush, the roses have the most beautiful fragrance. Thanks so much for any info you can share with me.

Answer 1

It's called black spot and appears on more roses than you can count.  It needs several things.  Cut back as much of the diseased area as you can.  Pull off as many of the diseased leaves as possible.  Clean up every leaf that falls off the bush as there are fungus spores on all of it. Don't put the leaves in your compost pile!  Then spray with a fungicide that lists it can be used for black spot.  Be sure to saturate the leaves on both sides.  The bush should be dripping wet.   Do this all again in about three weeks.

That should clear up the problem.  Spraying and sanitation are the best treatment for this fungus.