Question
QUESTION: We recently purchased in kansas city,Mo,where the previous owners had several rose bushes. I have about 3 wild growing bushes and 3 climbing and just couple smaller types. They all started out beautiful with lots of bloom. I have fed them and cut them back and cut off dying blooms. But now I am starting to see yellowing of the leaves and on some blackish spotty marks on other leaves. They are looking very skimpy and unhealthy now. What could be the problem and can I save them? I have sprayed them for bugs.

ANSWER: Many times roses will start to grow very well and then fall back. This can be caused by a change in the weather such as higher temperatures or perhaps spraying when the temperature is too warm. All these will cause a rose to go under stress and the yellow leaves will be signs of the stress. However if your roses leaves also have black spots on them then that is a fungal disease called Black Spot and is very common in roses. Ortho puts out a good spray that will keep the problem under control. It is called orthos Rose Defense.

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QUESTION: Should I cut off the branches with the yellowing leaves and spotted leaves and then spray?

Answer
The canes are fine, it is only the leaves that have a problem. Roses are capable of growing three sets of leaves and so they will replace the yellow ones when they fall off so I wouldn't cut back the canes. Just go ahead and spray the roses and they they will start to put out healthy type leaves and bloom for you.