There is a theory held by those of us who don't spray at all, that, over time, the garden will adjust, come into balance, evolve its own defenses and immune system. Blackspot, while never disappearing, will be more like a common cold than a plague. Whether this is true or just our wishful thinking and denial of grosser realities, is undecided. Certainly some years are better than others. It's really a matter of what you can live with. I prefer a clean conscience to clean leaves. I also have 450+ roses and don't have the time or energy to pick off spotty leaves or spray every two weeks.

With only 6 roses I wonder if one antitranspirant application applied in the spring may be all that you will need.

Here is a link that might be useful: link for above

Hi andreark: I agree with Catsrose 100%. I have 54 roses, clean and no spray. There are cheaper & organic ways to handle black spots. It's not baking soda, since that has salt.

Check out the link below for organic ways to PREVENT black spots

Here is a link that might be useful: Organic ways to prevent black spots

It sounds like this is bothering you a lot, so if you want to spray, the Bayer product will stop it cold (but will not make extant spots disappear). It will not be needed in summer.

I plan to try a milk spray this year to control blackspot. You might read what Jeff Gillman, from the University of Minnesota, says about milk and rose blackspot.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jeff Gillman link

I would spray once or twice every year at the beginning as a prevention. When the leaves break in spring in a frost free few days and again a month later. It seems to keep them clean all year and you won't be chasing your tail all year. If you want clean roses there is no shame in giving them a spray, it's a choice, organic or not and it is yours to make. I spray, because I like clean foliage and live in the UK where it seems to be wet all the time lol

Hey mike_rivers, good to hear from you. Let us know how that comes out.

Oh thanks so much for all your replies....I now have two choices, other than Bayer.

The first was given to me by a rosarian that I have mentioned before. Her name is Victoria and she is from Regan's Nursery in Fremont Ca. Last year, when I had
black vine weevils, she suggested beneficial nematodes and that worked great.

So when I told her I had black spot, she asked: "Do you have lawn sprinklers?". When I said yes, she asked if any of the water was blown on the roses. Since I had been watering at night, I didn't know. So I checked the next evening and sure enough the roses got a light spraying. When I told her this, she suggested changing the timer to early morning so that the water could dry off during the day...If this works, I'll do handsprings!!

If it doesn't, I'm going to try the milk spray that Jeff Rivers suggested, thank you very much.

Michael, I am upset about my babies. I don't have many I know, but they are all gorgeous (in my eyes) and I don't want to plant the next 7 bushes without knowing how to take care of them properly.

Windy once again. Sorry.

ak

If you are in Southern California, according to Jeri, this has been an odd year. I would consult with someone closer to you, as they can tell you if a fungicide treatment for a couple of weeks is warranted. BTW, no matter what, the existing spots will remain.

We live with blackspot here all of the time. Nothing to panic about, things like this are all part of rose growing.

Diane,

I am in northern California in the SFO Delta area.

The rosarian I spoke of is just a few miles from me.

Thanks for your interest,

ak

Sprinklers wetting roses at night could certainly cause problems...
Hopefully your BS declines...