Question
My Seven Sister rosebush has black spots on some of the leaves,turning yellow and have no leaves in some areas. It is over twenty years old, about 4 foot tall and about 3 foot across. there is green stems growing off light brown to dark brown stems. It is loaded with flowers 2 to three times a year but i havent pruned it in over a year or ever fertilized it and it belonged to my great aunt and i dont want to lose it. It is in Mississippi Ground. Is there something I can do or should do to help my rose bush?

Answer
Hi Regina,

It is likely that your rosebush as a disease called blackspot.  It is quite common and the symptoms you describe are consistent with the damage caused by this pathogen.  

The first step in controlling black spot is sanitation.  Fallen leaves should be raked up and discarded in the trash.  They harbor spores of the pathogen which can infect new leaves.  

The next step is managing moisture.  You will want to avoid watering with overhead irrigation.  You should not use a sprinkler to water the rose.  Rather, turn your hose on very low and trickle irrigate around the base of the plant.  The pathogen needs water to spread and cause infections, so by watering in this method, you do not get the leaves wet and infections are reduced.

Lastly, most growers will need to use fungicides to control blackspot on susceptible rose cultivars.  Roses are generally sprayed with fungicides on a 7-14 day schedule.  The interval is shortened when rainy weather is expected and can be slightly extended during dry weather periods.

I have found several links from Mississippi that discuss this disease in further detail.  For more information about black spot, I suggest that you review them.  The first link contains an article that lists active ingredients for products that are effective for black spot control. The second link provides more information about control.  The last link is to a you tube video from Mississippi State Extension about black spot of rose.

http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/ms/articles/rose_black_spot/

http://msucares.com/newsletters/pests/infobytes/19970514.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAEExHqXbxQ

Good luck with your plants!
--Jen