They are beautiful to look at - especially when they are in bloom: climbing roses. However, like almost all roses, these are quite sensitive to care errors and attract various fungal and deficiency diseases as well as pests. The following article tells you what signs to look out for.
Rose rust is one of the many diseases that can afflict climbing roses
Fungal diseases in climbing roses
Many a fungus can be avoided by watering and fertilizing the climbing rose correctly. This also includes keeping the leaves as dry as possible and not getting them wet when watering - rose leaves are very sensitive to moisture.
powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is also known as "fair weather mildew" because it mainly occurs in hot and dry summers. An infestation is noticeable by a white, floury coating on buds and leaves, but can be combated quite well with fungicides or household remedies (a spray treatment with a mixture of water and whole milk has proven particularly effective).
gray mold
Gray mold rot occurs primarily in locations that are too damp and/or too shady and is mainly noticeable through a greyish fungal growth that primarily occurs on the buds. The treatment is carried out by a courageous pruning.
rose leaf spot disease
This fungus also occurs when there is high humidity (especially when the rose petals cannot dry for a long time) and is manifested by red or black spots with a lighter center, which mainly appear on the leaves. Affected leaves should be collected and disposed of with household waste.
rose rust
Rose rust can be recognized by the typical circular, orange-yellow to orange-red pustules on the leaves. You can prevent this very contagious disease with a good supply of potassium.
blackspot
A good potash fertilization also helps against an infection with blackspot, which is noticeable by frayed, brownish to violet-black spots on the leaves.
Common Pests
In addition to the diseases listed, there are a number of pests that prefer to attack roses. Those that are particularly affected are already weakened specimens, which are additionally weakened by an infestation. These pests include:
- Ridged Weevil
- Common rose leafhopper
- Common spider mite
- rose aphid
- sawflies
- rose leaf leaf miner
- rose gall wasp and leaf gall wasp
In the event of an infestation, treatment should be carried out as soon as possible to prevent widespread spread. The natural enemies of the pests mentioned (for example predatory mites and predatory bugs against spider mites and ladybirds against aphids) can preferably be used.
tips
To prevent fungal diseases in particular, fallen leaves of the climbing rose should always be collected and removed with the garbage. Fungal spores often stick to the leaves, which survive the winter and cause infection in the spring.