[Green fingers]

Both my 'Dorothy Perkins' rose and my holly are both suffering from a very bad case of black spot. I have examined both and have been unable to see any bugs. The 'Dorothy Perkins' is fairly covered in it now and the leaves are falling off when touched. Any ideas?

[James Kilkelly]

[Sarah Evans]

Blackspot
If you have a persistent black spot problem, apply a weak drench solution of either Jeyes or Armilitox in soil around plants over winter to kill off blackspot spores. Add sulphur chips to soil at the base of the plant.
Pick off any infected leaves as soon as you see them. Do not put on your compost heap. Collect fallen leaves and either burn or put in rubbish
Always water at the base NOT on the leaves and water in the morning so leaves have chance to dry.
If you have a persistent blackspot problem, you can use Bordeaux mixture before leaves open, or treat leaves with copper fungicide.
Grow varieties that have some black spot resistance.
A completely organic method for treating blackspot is to spray the leaves with diluted skimmed milk. This forms an invisible fungus which prevents the black spot fungus forming.

Remember: Roseclear is poisonous to bees.

Taken from our info sheet

[Sarah Evans]

[b]Top 10 disease-resistant roses

Silver Ghost
A repeat-flowering shrub rose with single white flowers and dark healthy foliage (2ft). Gold Standard rose.

Temptress
A repeat-flowering dark red climbing rose with glossy dark green foliage - for pillars, walls and arches (up to 6ft).

Golden Gate
A mid-yellow, repeat-flowering climber with semi-double flowers for pillars, walls and arches (up to 6ft).

Cinderella
A light pink, repeat-flowering climber bearing clusters of quartered flowers. Very fragrant (over 6ft).

Lancashire
A low-growing, repeat-flowering ground cover rose, with unscented red flowers and dark green leaves (2ft).

Buxom Beauty
Highly scented, mauve-pink hybrid tea rose with healthy foliage and large spiralled buds which give huge flowers (4ft).

Champagne Moments
A superb floribunda with clusters of pale apricot flowers fading to cream (2ft 6in-3ft). Rose of the Year 2006.

Red Finesse
A dark red floribunda with rich green leaves (3ft).

Summer Beauty
Short apricot floribunda with clusters of full flowers and olive-green foliage (2ft 3in).

Caribbean Dawn
A semi-double, patio rose with lots of pink flowers shaded in yellow and orange and small green leaves (2ft).

[Green fingers]

Thanks, I will try one or all. Keep up the good work.