This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Climbing Rose
Snoopydoy
Posts: 18
Hi Forum, Help needed yet again. Three years ago I moved into my cottage and a lovely climbing rose was over the door with a clematis running through it. I have dutifully fed it with rose fertiliser twice a year but this year the rose is in terrible condition. The leaves are small, about the size of your little finger nail, spindly branches and covered with a sticky residue and black spots on the leaves. I think I am killing it. What am I doing wrong?
0
Posts
Hi - there are a few things here. Firstly, if the clematis is healthy, it could be strangling the rose which would cause it to go spindly. This then makes it susceptible to a common fungal disease called rose black spot. The sticky residue is probably an aphid infestation
Firstly, I would cut back some of the clematis to get more air to the rose. Then remove all the leaves with black spot on them and burn them (don't compost them). Cut back some of the more spindly branches and get a good all-1 rose spray (Bayer or the like). Many of them will deal with black spot and aphids as well as powdery mildew. Give the rose a thorough spray at the intervals on the container.
The rose should recover in time but keep the clematis under control. (I've seen a clematis ramble through a tree until it kills it).
Thanks Dorcas. The clematis and rose start together but the rose rambles right and the clematis rambles left. have tried to feed the rose above and below my window. The clematis lives over the porch, and yes this is quite healthy.
If I remove the spindly stems and black spot leaves the rose will be bare.
If you don't remove the leaves as dorcas say's you'll keep the blackspot. Removing the leaves will look ugly but it's necessary to tackle the blackspot, leaves grow back very quickly on a rose and getting the fungicide onto the bare stems is essential to tackle the blackspot and pests. I do it all the time for dubious customers who are amazed when the rose gets back into shape and looks great. Some harsh treatment is a necessary evil I'm afraid, and spray any flowers and the ground around the base of the rose as well. Water it with a few gallons and mulch it as well, it'll all help.