Originally Posted by

This year, after 6 years, I am going to re do my rose garden. I have had a horrible time with deer and was about to totally give up BUT I have found a way to install an electric fence that won't be too ugly and it will still allow me easy access for gardening.
The roses themselves are in terrible shape. To be honest I think most (there are 7) of them will need to be replaced. I would like to keep a few of the originals and the biggest problem with them is Black Spot. My plan is to strip all the foliage and cut the canes back. They are mulched with pine bark. Do I trash the pine bark and put plastic over the dirt to get rid of the black spot? Then re apply new pine bark? Will that do the trick or is there something else that would work better? Also are there vine type vegetables that do well with Roses, like cucumbers perhaps? Thanks in advance and I look forward to having some activity in this group again !
MJ