Question
CL:
What is the best way to get rid of Black spot on roses.
This is by the far the best year for Roses, Hydrangia and
day lillies.  WOW!!!

Answer
Pat,
Yes, it has been a good year for these plants - the Hydrangeas in particular are stunning.

You never really "get rid of" blackspot on susceptible roses, but you have to cope with it. To lessen the problem, you spray in November and March with Lime/Sulfur spray. Then starting in early April, you spray once a week with the fungicide of your choice... most rose people alternate one the first week, another the second. This can be a heavy-hitting fungicide (that kills the good fungi as well as the bad) or an organic control. The organic controls include Serenade, Neem and Horticultural Oil plus baking soda or Green Cure. Spraying once a week is essential, as is coating the underside as well as the top of the leaves.  You can alternate those mentioned, or stick with one. In a bad year, you'll get blackspot anyway, but will keep it somewhat at bay.

This year I've decided to go on a "just say no" program - I'm not spraying any of my roses. I'm cleaning them up if they get blackspot, (removing infected leaves) and that's it. If they become leafless I'll cut them back at that point and they can leaf out again in the fall.  I have better things to do, I've decided, than fight it.  

all the best,
C.L.