We aren't the only ones that love the cool, crisp, air once fall arrives. Roses thrive during the fall! To take advantage of their flourishing you should fertilize your rose bush during the fall. In last week's newsletter, we discussed the benefits of pruning your rose one last time before fall arrives. This will help encourage blooming during the fall season. If you didn't get around to pruning your rose bush, don't worry, you can still prune during early September. Have you noticed some black spot creeping up on your rose? Many different type of roses are susceptible to this common fungus. The black spots start off as tiny black dots on your newer leaves but before long, they've moved throughout the bush. The spots grow larger and larger, causing yellowing, and eventual dropping of leaves. Normally, Black Spot is first noticed after the spring, when rain has been prevalent.

This fungus loves to make its home in warm, moist conditions. For this reason, if your roses have Black Spot, it is best to water them during the morning hours, so that the leaves will be able to dry out during the day. Another way to treat Black Spot is to purchase a fungicide spray and to provide regular treatments for your rose. Consistency is key when applying the fungicide. If the fungus has only made its appearance on a few of the leaves and doesn't seem to have spread yet, you can remove the leaves and destroy them. It's best to do this far from other plants. This fungus is so strong, that you might even consider burning the leaves, after they have been removed. To avoid obtaining Black Spot to begin with, make sure your roses are in a location with good air circulation, so their leaves have plenty of opportunity to dry out. You might also want to avoid areas that are too shady or too densely populated with other plants.

Hope you are able to enjoy this fall season along with your roses!