Keep Your Garden Roses Free From Black Spot With This £1.20 Fridge Staple

Roses are one of the most beloved flowers in English cottage gardens, synonymous with timeless beauty and classic horticulture.

But they are also very susceptible to disease, particularly fungal diseases that can cause unsightly black spots and powdery mildew, compromising their vibrant appearance.

However, there is a simple trick that can be used to prevent black spots and even treat them once they appear — and most of us already have it in our fridge.

Joe, a gardener who specialises in organic and chemical-free solutions and is the founder of In the Wild Garden, has revealed how he treats this common garden issue with milk.

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He explains: “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.”

While milk might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to gardening, there’s actually a lot of science to back up Joe’s solution.

When milk is exposed to sunlight, it creates compounds that are actually toxic to fungal spores, keeping black spots at bay. Milk also creates a coating on the leaves, providing a protective barrier against infection.

To try this technique yourself, mix one part milk (you can use either whole, as Joe suggests, or semi-skimmed milk) with two parts water in a spray bottle.

Spray the mixture onto rose leaves and stems daily — aim to mist the leaves for a light coating rather than soaking them.

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For flowers at risk of black spots, spray the mixture onto leaves and stems weekly, reapplying after heavy rainfall, starting the process in late spring.

Milk has a pungent odour, particularly in the heat, so many people prefer to complete this garden job in the morning and evening when the sun is weaker – especially during the summer months.

Joe adds: “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!”

If you do apply the milk spray in the evening, ensure the plants have enough time to dry, as leaving them overnight could lead to unwanted pests.

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