Q: I have had lots of problems with black spot on my roses. Is there anything I can do now to prevent this problem next spring and summer?
A: Our recent spate of warm and very wet weather can cause lots of problems for roses.
Black spot is a fungus, and the spores will multiply and spread in warm wet weather. Even if your roses have almost no leaves right now, the spores will survive until spring and can lead to major damage. Your roses can be pruned to open up the cane structure and allow free air movement.
A total cleanup of the areas around any rose garden is crucial and should be done every fall. All dead leaves should be raked up and disposed of by burning or removal. You can add a layer of fresh, clean mulch to insulate the plant roots.
However, don’t leave last year’s mulch on the roses. You can rake it up and use it in areas with big trees or shrubs that rarely suffer from fungal problems. Get old mulches away from your rose bushes.