Roses are a beautiful addition to any garden, but they are often susceptible to black spot, a fungal infection that manifests as circular black spots on leaves. If left untreated, affected leaves turn yellow and fall off, weakening the plant and potentially killing it.
Gardening expert David Domoney recommends a simple three-minute job to tackle the problem: cutting off any leaves with black marks. After inspecting his roses, one gardener found most leaves were covered in black spots, with some already yellow.
Using pruning secateurs cleaned with a 70 percent alcohol wipe between cuts to prevent spreading the disease, he removed the affected leaves. For those without secateurs, pulling leaves off by hand works too.
He also collected any fallen leaves from the soil and disposed of them in the council bin, emphasising that they should never be added to compost. Finally, he watered the plant directly onto the soil, avoiding wetting the leaves, as black spot spreads through water.
