Amidst the vibrant colour of roses, the foliage will turn into a mixture of yellow and light green with dark patches on the upper surface of the leaf.

Prevention is better than cure, and sulphur can act as a preventative fungicide and be applied as a spray or drench in the early season,” adds Philip. With such a wide array of choices, it can be difficult to choose the right fungicidal spraying solution. If you make sure your roses are given a balanced diet, it goes a long way to ensuring they thrive.” The deadly combination of copper sulphate and hydrated lime in water kills fungus and deters insects.

Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience. / Meets Our Editorial Guidelines

Perhaps the most common phrase you hear while speaking to a botanist regarding plant health is “prevention works better than cure”.If you notice unhealthy stems before the leaves appear, eliminate them from your rose plant immediately. Are they well fed, watered, sunny and have enough space for decent airflow? A happy vigorous plant will have better natural resistance than stressed plants.”