My coral Drift Roses look like they are dying foliage looks grey not deep green and the blooms are not regenerating like normal. What could be causing get this?

Answer #1 · Maple Tree's Answer · Hi Cynthia-There are several diseases that can affect the growth and blooming of roses. If the leaves are looking more gray with blooms not developing properly I'm thinking this may be a powdery mildew. Besides being discolored are the leaves distorted or curling? Powdery mildew can cause the leaves to die and fall off in time also if left untreated. Is there any white of gray looking powder along the tops and bottom of the leaves and possibly along the stems also? Are the leaves turning yellow or is there any spotting on the leaves. Spotting of leaves due to several fungal diseases can be brown, black, red, or purple looking in color. Have your drift roses received a lot of water recently? Possibly from rain or too much irrigation. Have these rosed been fertilized this year and if so with what type of fertilizer? Are these roses near a lawn area that may have been fertilized with a weed and feed fertilizer? If you can upload a picture of the rose bush and an upclose picture of the discolored leaves it would help to identify the problem. Above this and to the right of your name below your question you will see where you can upload any picture you have saved on your computer.

John)

Answer #2 · Maple Tree's Answer · Cynthia-I looks as though the problem is a type of fungal disease. Its hard to see many of the leaves up close but from the looks of some of the leaves yellowing with large dark splotches or spotting I'm thinking it is black spot disease. This disease is common on roses during wet weather when temperatures are warming in spring. Indications dark spotting, yellowing, browning of the entire leaf then eventual dropping of the leaves. . Leaves may be curled and distorted also. The best thing to do is make sure the soil is not staying too wet. Avoid any overhead watering as this splashing water along with wind can spread the fungal spores. Remove any infected leaves and be sure to rake up any fallen leaves. Dispose of these infected leaves but do not add them to any compost pile as this disease can then be spread to other plants. Products for treatment of this fungal disease can be purchased at you local quality nursery or garden center. A few products you can use is Banner Maxx or Mancozeb fungicide. If you like using an organic product you can use Neem oil which can also be easily found at any nursery. Carefully follow instructions on the product labels when mixing and treatment time intervals. Treatment is normally done every 7 to 14 days until disease is under control.

John)