Preventing and combating rose rust: 6 organic home remedies

The seductive splendor of the roses in your own garden is quickly gone when the plants are attacked by so-called rose rust. This is a fungal disease that can affect roses not only visually. If you notice an infestation, you should act quickly. But prevention is better than fighting it. And it can help to only plant certain roses.

Recognize

The so-called rose disease in Central Europe is mainly caused by two fungi, Phragmidium mucronatum and Phragmidium tuberculatum. They can penetrate into the molecular structure, especially of the leaves, and then inevitably lead to optical changes on the upper and lower side of the leaf. These changes are relatively easy to spot. On the upper side of the leaf there are usually small yellow-red spots, while at the same time yellow-orange pustules the size of the head of a pin can be seen on the underside of the leaf. If both characteristics occur together, then the disease is clearly the rose disease. To recognize it, it is therefore always necessary to look at the leaves from both sides. Under certain circumstances, a magnifying glass can be very helpful for this.

Tip: Roses and especially their leaves should be checked for unnatural changes several times a week if possible. This control can of course also be carried out on a random basis.

Consequences of an infestation

The rose rust is one of the most common

Diseases in roses, but it is also relatively harmless for the plant. Mostly it only leads to visual impairments on the leaves. But since the appearance of roses plays a major role, this fungal attack can quickly spoil the pleasure of the plant. If the infestation is particularly severe, there is also a complete loss of leaves. However, such a severe fungal infestation occurs only extremely rarely. However, if it is not fought immediately, this can have dramatic consequences for the rose bush, including death.

Fight rose disease

A fungal attack on the rose bush can be treated with specially developed products from specialist retailers. These agents can be both chemical and biological. However, going to the specialist store is not necessary at all. With home remedies, to which everyone has easy access, the rose disease can be countered at least as well. They also cost less and are usually much more environmentally friendly. Only when there is a very strong infestation will one no longer be able to avoid the use of chemical substances. In the vast majority of cases, however, experience has shown that it works without it. The control is always based on the fact that the fungus that attacked the plant is destroyed.

Organic home remedies

The rose grate can be excellently and very effectively with organic home remedies

fight. Above all, three remedies have been recommended that can be mixed relatively quickly and are very easy to use.
1. Edible oil / detergent mixture

• Mix 100 milliliters of cooking oil with two packets of baking powder and a few drops of washing-up liquid
• Add three liters of warm but not boiling water
• Mix the mixture well with a clean wooden spoon and let it cool down further
• Fill parts of it into a spray bottle and spray the entire plant with it
• Don't forget the undersides of the leaves and branches

2. Field horsetail slurry

• Fill up one kilogram of fresh horsetail leaves with ten liters of cold to lukewarm water
• Let the mixture steep for at least 24, better 48 hours
• then filter with a linen cloth or a fine sieve
• then dilute to about ten percent with clear water
• use the diluted liquid manure as irrigation water
• water and spray the affected plant at least every two weeks

3. Garlic broth

• Finely chop 300 grams of garlic
• Pour ten liters of boiling water over them
• Let the mixture steep for about half an hour
• then filter with a clean linen cloth or a fine sieve
• Let the infusion cool down further
• then spray the plant with the mixture every two weeks

The horsetail manure is also suitable for preventive use. If you water the roses with it regularly, the likelihood that a fungus will nestle in the plants decreases. Consequently, there is also no rose rust. The liquid manure can also be an important protection against other diseases. Above all, it provides excellent protection against the dreaded powdery mildew.
Tip: Regardless of which means you choose, infected leaves should always be removed and disposed of in the garbage. Under no circumstances should leaves that have already fallen off be left under or near the plant

will.

Prevent

The best disease is known to be the one that you don't even get. This applies to us humans, but also to animals and plants. Prevention is therefore always better than cure. There are a number of measures to protect the roses in the garden from rose disease. Here are the main ones:

Only plant roses with the ADR seal

Roses with an ADR seal are generally much less susceptible to disease. ADR stands for "General German Rose Novelty Examination". These are particularly resistant and very robust breeds. It is therefore advisable to only plant roses that are allowed to bear this seal. This does not mean a one hundred percent guarantee and also does not mean that it will protect you against a fungal attack would be resistant, but the likelihood that it will occur in them is many times lower.

Ensure good ventilation

In order for a fungus to spread in a rose bush, it needs a rather humid and warm climate. Consequently, it makes sense to plant the rose bushes in such a way that they are always well ventilated. So you shouldn't stand too close together either. The wind will then ensure that wet leaves dry out again very quickly.

Pour only in the root area

Drops of water on the leaves promote infection with a fungus. If the roses are watered, watering should therefore always take place directly in the root area. Pouring from above is therefore fundamentally prohibited. Sometimes, however, it cannot be avoided. If this is the case, then it is essential to water in the morning so that the leaves can dry out again during the day.

Plant garlic and fertilize properly

Knoblich works wonders not only for us humans. It can also protect roses from fungal attack. Certain substances it contains act as a kind of natural fungicide. Garlic plants between the rose bushes may not look great, but they can be effective in protecting them. Finally, the right fertilization is also an important preventive measure against rose rust. The following applies: always only add a little nitrogen.