I'm new to rose tending, yet the home I now own must have at least 15
separate ones, both climbing and bushes. I was here last year in the Fall
and noted they didn't seem as healthy as I thought they should be. In fact,
some of the leaves looked down right 'sick'. Are there signs I can watch
early in the season, late Spring and summer for that would indicate
problems? I'm in northern Colorado, on the eastern plains. Thanks.

Rust , blackspot,Aphids,powdery mildew and downy mildew. Shall I
continue...........................?
"Sue Kreutzer" wrote in message
...
I'm new to rose tending, yet the home I now own must have at least 15
separate ones, both climbing and bushes. I was here last year in the Fall
and noted they didn't seem as healthy as I thought they should be. In
fact,
some of the leaves looked down right 'sick'. Are there signs I can watch
early in the season, late Spring and summer for that would indicate
problems? I'm in northern Colorado, on the eastern plains. Thanks.

Sue Kreutzer wrote:

I'm new to rose tending, yet the home I now own must have at least 15
separate ones, both climbing and bushes.

Congratulations on your good taste in homes, or at least landscaping!
You'll love your roses.



I was here last year in the Fall
and noted they didn't seem as healthy as I thought they should be. In
fact, some of the leaves looked down right 'sick'. [..]I'm in northern
Colorado, on the eastern plains. Thanks.

Sue--there is a book you can find in Lowe's or Home Depot or the big box
book stores called "All About Roses," by Ortho, the chemical/garden supply
company. It is simple and straightforward in its descriptions of the
several fungal diseases and insect pests most likely to plague roses. It
does not have a chem/anti-chem agenda--it just describes, with good
illustrations and photos. I recommend you pick this up--or go by your
local library and look at rose books. I don't know your area--but most
foliage problems are fungal problems. There are various solutions. FWIW
most rose foliage looks crappy in the fall, which I suspect is why many
folks defoliate them at that time. (They say it is to keep extant fungal
disease from overwintering.)

Don't you want to post photos of your blooms so we can all guess what you
have??! Have you checked for the metal tags around the base of the canes?
Do tell!

"Sue Kreutzer" wrote in message
...
I'm new to rose tending, yet the home I now own must have at least 15
separate ones, both climbing and bushes. I was here last year in the Fall
and noted they didn't seem as healthy as I thought they should be. In
fact,
some of the leaves looked down right 'sick'. Are there signs I can watch
early in the season, late Spring and summer for that would indicate
problems? I'm in northern Colorado, on the eastern plains. Thanks.


Hello Sue,

Try this link and see if you can find what you are looking for.
Conditions of course change according to climates and micro
climates, but the nuisances are all just about the same everywhere.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...re/DG1163.html

Do you happen to know any of the names of your roses?

Some times owners leave the tags on, either on the rose itself
or planted nearby, most of the time it disappears under the
mulch or into the ground, so perhaps you can take a look for
it. That may help find how to deal with the pruning and the
feeding and so forth. Or you must wait until they bloom and
then between all of us I am sure if you post some photos
we can try to help you identify them. For right now a couple
of good books you may search for at your library may be
a good guidance as well.

Welcome to the group,

Allegra

Sue Kreutzer wrote:

I'm new to rose tending, yet the home I now own must have at least 15
separate ones, both climbing and bushes. I was here last year in the Fall
and noted they didn't seem as healthy as I thought they should be. In fact,
some of the leaves looked down right 'sick'. Are there signs I can watch
early in the season, late Spring and summer for that would indicate
problems? I'm in northern Colorado, on the eastern plains.

Sue, in addition to the other good advice you've gotten, read up on the
watering and feeding of your roses. Roses don't need huge quantities of
nitrogen, but since they like to grow continuously throughout the
growing season, you should try to water and feed them enough to do what
they're genetically programmed to do. Start with healthy growth and
good varieties for your climate, and you've gone a long way to avoiding
disease. You should have a healthy climate for growing roses up there,
if you can keep them watered and winter protected.

Fertilizers need not be expensive, but they should be complete, meaning
they should have minor nutrients in addition to NPK. One way is to use
Osmocote in the spring, since it releases nutrients through the season.
Then you can foliar feed with extra-diluted fertilizers that supply the
minor nutrients (like Growmore, fish emulsion, and liquid kelp) a
couple of times during the season.

Hi Sue,

I live in Loveland CO, very similar to the eastern plains of our state.

The common problems with diseases are powdery mildew on new growth and black
spot on the mature leaves. Rust is not very common and downy mildew is also
uncommon. As to pests, thrip and aphids are the usual critters.

The Ortho book, 'All About Roses' is an excellent source of information.

The Devner Rose Society is holding our anual symposium tomorrow at the
Devner Botanical Garden Center, I believe you will find it worth your time
to attend. The
Denver RS also has a local publication "Growing Roses on the Front Range"
that is specific to our climate and conditions. It contains an extensive
list of varities that do well in this climate.

We also have a rose food, Mile-Hi Rose Food that is all organic that has
produced excellent results for me.

One of the common problems with the commercial plant foods is a lack of
micro-nutrients. When selecting a rose food read the label and be aware of
more than just the three primary nutrients. Miracle Grow 15-30-15 does
contain nice supplement of micros and can be used as a primary food or as a
supplement.

If you are interested in attending the symposium tomorrorw at 9am see the
following link for diretions:
http://ypng.infospace.com/_1_UYJUGK0...detail.htm?qb=
&recid=0097147074&xmlurl=http%3A%2F%2Fyp107.superp ages.com%2Fxml%2Fdetail.ph
tml%3FT%3DDenver%26N%3DDenver%2BBotanical%26PG%3DL %26R%3DN%26SRC%3DInfospace
%26S%3DCO%26AL%3D%26MC%3D%26map.x%3D212%26map.y%3D 125%26level%3D8%26lat%3D03
97331%26lng%3D-1049599%26POI1lat%3D0397331%26POI1lng%3D-1049599%26POI1name%3
DDenver%2BBotanic%2BGardens%2BMain%2BEntrance%26st reetaddress%3D%26city%3DDe
nver%26state%3DCO%26zip%3D80206%26LID%3D0097147074 %26LS%3D%26display%3D1%26A
D%3D%26GV%3D0%26GL%3D%26FN%3D%26PP%3DN%26CID%3D&kc fg=ypus&ypinsp=0&searchtyp
e=all&fromform=qsearch&qn=Denver+Botanical&qc=Denv er&qs=CO&qlat=0397331&qlon
g=-1049599&qk=15&recid=0097147074

Tim Tompkins

Or you must wait until they bloom and
then between all of us I am sure if you post some photos
we can try to help you identify them

Another excellent idea. I do know how to scan images into the computer.
Would need some help in posting an image in the newsgroup, but as you say,
let's let the lovelies bloom out first !

wonderful !
sue