Standard Rose Gemma

gemfull3 · August 2020

Hi I am looking for help on my rose, got 2 years ago and it done ok last year but this year has no foliage and just roses at the top I cut it back good bit last autumn around nov time. Its been fed spring and then early summer.

Should I cut back really hard this year once flowered ?

Thanks for your help

Borderline · August 2020

I suspect there are no leaves because the leaves have dropped off due to black spot. On some roses, that can be common problem in late summer. Make sure you remove the leaves from the base and avoid leaving them on the ground over winter. The idea is to minimise re-infection.

You can prune them back a bit in late autumn or early spring. Continue with the same regime of feeding. They also appreciate a new top dressing of rotted manure in early spring if you can give it that.

gemfull3 · August 2020

Thanks for your advice

Nollie · August 2020

I agree, it’s got black spot badly and dropped the diseased leaves, you can see it on the remaining leaf in your second photo. As well as clearing up the fallen leaves and giving it a good mulch as borderline suggests, I think it does need a harder prune in late winter/early spring. Take about a third off and remove any dead canes or crossing canes in the middle - the aim is to achieve a more even, open, goblet shape and encourage more airflow through the middle, which will also help control the black spot. BS is inevitable but good hygiene and pruning will help stop it spreading so rapidly. For now, you can snip off those dead bits on the ends of the canes.

It is growing rather lop-sided, possibly the brick pillar getting in the way, or it’s growing better on the side that gets more light. If it is in a pot, a good trick is to rotate the pot occasionally so it gets more even light. Obviously you can’t do that if it’s in the ground!

Standard Rose Gemma

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