Neem oil saves roses from fungal diseases

Black spot, powdery mildew and rust are the big three fungal diseases that maim roses. Fortunately, you can use the same product on all three. Keep an eye on the leaves, and if you notice symptoms, i.e. black spots and yellowing, orange pustules on the undersides, your rose has black spot and/or rust and you need to remove infected leaves and get them out of the yard. You don't need to remove the leaves if the only problem you see is grayish powder, indicating powdery mildew. No matter which disease you see, apply one of the products containing neem oil, an environmentally friendly product made up of vegetable oil. Try to avoid wetting the foliage when you water, and continue to monitor for signs of disease. Perform the same tasks anytime you see the symptoms reappear. I've found that with properly timed sprays, only three applications generally are needed to keep even highly susceptible roses disease free. Caution: Neem oil will kill beneficial insects. Move ladybugs to another plant before spraying.