Now is the Time to Prevent Black Spot
If you grow roses, it's safe to assume that you've experienced the, er, joys of dealing with black spot. This unsightly, and sometimes fatal, fungal disease can be a real problem, especially if you garden in areas with hot, humid summers.
Even though many of us are weeks away from smelling our first rose, this is the time to get to work preventing black spot. Before the first foliage appears, it's a good idea to rake up any fallen foliage from around your roses, prune off any sickly or dead canes, and give the entire area a good three inch layer of mulch. Believe it or not, just accomplishing these simple tasks can significantly reduce the amount of black spot you'll have to deal with this summer. To find out more about dealing with black spot, check out my article on preventing and controlling black spot.
Comments
Could chances of “black spot” or “BS” be significantly decreased by using the finished soil created by “vermicomposting?” Some research suggests that it has been proven to possess properties that resist many pathogens as well as mites etc. Could use of vermicomposted soil (worm castings)be of help in this case? Just curious.
Mike Hall
Oakland, Ca
Hi Mike,
The research on vermicompost is reassuring, to be sure. I haven’t heard of any particular tests done on preventing blackspot, but worm castings used to topdress the soil around rose bushes would do triple duty in acting as a mulch, therefore burying any dormant spores; as an organic fertlizer; and to, hopefully, provide as a foil to any pathogens.