FUNGAL DISEASE IN ROSES

Dilution 100:1

LEAF ATTACK Fungal diseases are spread by air-borne spores which on roses cause black areas on the leaves. Spray the plant in November / December after pruning and drench the whole bed to kill the spores in the ground level before the winter rains wash them in. BLACK SPOT In the days when practically every house and factory in the country was coal fired, there was sufficient sulphur in the atmosphere around our towns and cities to prevent such plant diseases as Black Spot of Roses ever becoming a problem. But now as a result of our quest for clean air Black Spot has become a major problem everywhere, not only for those living in the rural areas but also for millions of urban gardeners as well. The life cycle of the disease is interesting - the fungus enters the rose (the "host") in order to reproduce. This it does in late February or early March, when the spores which have over wintered, either on decayed diseased foliage or in the bud and subsequent growth. Spores are 'seeds' that are so small that an electron microscope is needed to see them properly. These 'invisible' seeds cover the whole surface of the rose bed during the dormant season. This is the best time and place to kill them i.e. when they are external to the plant, not during the growing season when the fungus is in the plant. Therefore:- After you have carried out your cosmetic pruning Nov/Dec and removed all the debris, go over the whole bed with a thorough drench of ARMILLATOX diluted with 50 parts of water to 1 part of the concentrate, using your watering can with the rose on. This drench will catch the spores before they are washed in with the winter rains. When you do your hard pruning and cut then right back in February go over the woody subjects again with a 100:1 solution in order to sterilise the wounds and prevent die back. PREVENT ATTACK To sterilize wounds and prevent die-back, apply a dilution of 100:1 in February after a hard pruning. REPLANTING Thoroughly drench the planting hole at a dilution of 50:1 For bare-root specimens, wait 3 days. Containerised subjects can be replanted straight away. ROSE SOIL SICKNESS When roses have been growing in a certain position for a number of years, the soil in that spot suffers from rose soil sickness - new roses planted in their place will not thrive or even survive. Soil sickness can be brought about by one or several of the following, but Armillatox treatment corrects them:- Mineral Deficiency - Roses, which are hungry feeders, will reduce the level of minerals available in a form which they can readily take up, especially trace elements such as manganese, boron etc. Fungal Build-up - Build-up of various soil fungi which attack the root system have been found in soils in which roses have grown. Nematodes - Nematodes, small microscopic eel worms gradually build up in the soil and some of these eat the roots of the rose bush. Established plants normally have an intensive root system and are sufficiently strong to fight off such attacks and they will remain vigorous if fed and looked after properly. New plants with their limited root system have difficulties in establishing themselves under such conditions. Planting New Roses - If the planting hole is thoroughly drenched with a solution of 50 parts of water to 1 part Armillatox and the soil from the hole thoroughly wetted through with the same solution as it is dug out, this will purge the soil clean again. Use a watering can, full for this operation i.e. up to 10 Litres per planting hole. Treating Existing Roses - Using the spout of your watering can, water a 100 to 1 solution of Armillatox around the collar of your subjects - a multiplicity of small amounts is always preferable to one heavy drench.