Organic rose growing is not impossible or even difficult. In the past, gardeners would have heaped loads of chemicals and pesticides onto their plants in an effort to eradicate all insect plagues and other nasty diseases. In the end, they might have gotten some beautiful roses, but we know now that the impact of pesticides and chemicals on our natural environment and on the health of people is horrific. So, do the healthy thing and grow your roses the organic way.

Prevention: the first step to healthy, organic roses

Your plants need a good start in life and a good home if they are to be healthy, vibrant and produce wonderful, colourful blooms. Here are the key steps to give your flowers what they need:
1.Good, healthy soil which should be rich and full of organic matter. Roses also like well-drained soil so if you have very clayey soil, add loads of compost.
2.Add a layer of mulch on top of your soil. Mulch can be any number of materials including recycled artificial materials such as shredded rubber tyres or corks (these are positive environmental choice as it reduces waste going to landfills) or natural materials such as pebbles, crushed seashells, plant matter, wood chips, pine needles or bark. Any of these materials will help to retain moisture, inhibit weed growth and help keep your roses happy.
3.Prune your rose bushes regularly. Prune in such a manner that you clear out canes from the center of the bush and ensure better air circulation. This helps to inhibit fungal growth. Funguses thrive in dense, thick, poorly ventilated areas of vegetation.
4.Keep the area around your rose bushes free of weeds and trim any other surrounding plants so that your roses have space to grow.
5.Always keep your pruning tools clean and sanitized (use bleach and water) as this also helps prevent the spread of any possible diseases from one plant to another. Clean your tools as soon as you’ve finished pruning one plant.
6.Encourage biodiversity: plant a diversity of plants in your garden, especially those that attract good insects such as wasps, lacewings and ladybugs which help to keep the numbers of other less helpful insects under control. Ensuring that your garden is as close to the natural balance as possible will help to limit disease and harmful insect plagues.
7.Plant companion plants with your roses such as thyme, rosemary, garlic and lavender. These are all excellent herbs for repelling less desirable insects.

Treatment: how to treat funguses and pests the natural way

Unfortunately, roses are sometimes highly susceptible to a range of fungal diseases. These include: black spot, powdery mildew, downy mildew, rust, botrytis blight and stem canker. They are also sometimes plagued by aphids, thrips, slugs and caterpillars.

Whilst this might sound like an overwhelming list of maladies that can afflict your precious roses, don’t reach for the toxic chemicals yet. There is a wonder treatment that is a multipurpose fungicide as well as an insecticide and it does no harm to the broader environment and is non-toxic to humans.

Neem oil comes from a tree that is endemic to India. There are now many formulations made of neem oil available for the organic gardener. It has been found that neem oil repels a wide variety of pests including aphids, mites, thrips, beetles, moth larvae, caterpillars, and the Japanese beetle (another rose enemy). Neem oil also controls a host of fungal diseases. It’s the organic rose gardener’s best friend.