Black spot disease is more common in spring when the soil is wet and warm (Image: Getty)
Gardeners are starting to reap the rewards of caring for roses as their buds swell and begin to bloom, but they should be aware that spring can be a troublesome time for these flowers. Roses are very vulnerable to a fungal disease called black spot at this time of year, as the spores tend to thrive when the soil warms up but is exposed to the rainy spring weather.
This disease takes its name from the most noticeable symptom, which is big blotchy black marks on rose leaves that eventually fall off, and spread the infection around the garden. Black spot on its own is unlikely to kill roses, but it weakens the leaves so the plant cannot take in enough energy, which will make it more susceptible to pests and other diseases. It will cause roses not to flower properly so you are left with a bare and lifeless-looking plant but it is also more likely to die back in summer as it will struggle to cope in the hot weather.
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You will first notice black spot as it will quickly spread on rose leaves (Image: Getty)How do you help keep roses healthy in spring?
However, Joe, a gardener and founder of In the Wild Garden has shared there is a natural but very effective way to prevent black spot on roses, or even help cure it by spraying it with milk.
Joe said: “Mix up a solution of one part milk (full fat milk) to two parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the remaining leaves of the plant with this solution, and repeat every week.”
It might sound strange, but when milk is exposed to sunlight, it will produce compounds which are toxic to fungal spores and will stop them from spreading.
Milk will also create a thin coating on a leaf, which makes it harder for spores to attach themselves to a plant and will act like a barrier against the infection.
Using milk will help prevent black spot in spring or help slow it down the disease if you catch if quick enough to it does not completely harm the plant and gives it a better chance of surviving.
You can prevent black spot if you spray roses once a week with milk (Image: Getty)How to use milk to stop black spot disease
The simplest and absolute best way to keep black spot out of your garden is to keep it tidy. Black spot spores spread through decaying foliage, so make sure you are picking up leaves or any other debris around the base of your roses.
Mulching your roses will also greatly help prevent black spot, as spores tend to splash onto the plant when it rains. Covering the soil with compost or wood bark will help stop the infection.
Next, spray the milk solution on roses once a week. Just mix one part milk with two parts water in an empty spray bottle. Use it to mist the leaves, and aim to lightly coat the plant rather than soaking it.
Make sure you check your plant at least once a week for signs of black spot. If you notice it, strip the plant of all its leaves, place them in a bin, and keep using the milk solution.
Simply mix milk and water together and mist your roses (Image: Getty)
It should be noted that milk can smell, and it is recommended to avoid spraying it in the afternoon when the sun is at its highest, as it will leave a strong sour odour in your garden.
Instead, it is better to spray in the morning so that the leaves dry more quickly, but you could also spray it later in the day in the evening if you wish.
Joe added: “One word of warning would be to do this in the evening, as the smell of milk in the garden on a hot day is not great!”
However, make sure your roses are completely dry afterwards if you spray the solution in the evening, as leaving the plant damp overnight could attract slugs or other pests.
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