Question
Hi Lynnette,
I have several roses bushes, but I was really surprised this week, when I noticed black spots on the leaves of one of my Knockouts. I didn't think that they could get this disease....my climbing rose bushes are fine and no where near the Knockouts. I water at the base of the bush and not overhead...I just don't know what could have caused this. We did have an extremely hard freeze, I covered all the shrubs to protect them and thought they were not going to make it. The shrub itself is growing great, tons of blooms and seems "happy" - just has spots. I was planning to treat it with the fungal spray for traditional roses?
Thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!
Callie

Answer
Oh dear, I wish they would stop telling lies about the Knock Out roses. Yes, they are good roses and yes they are very hardy and they do have SOME resistance to disease, but they are still a rose and they will still get what other roses do. I have had many questions about why Knock Out roses are not doing what the hype says they should. I'm afraid you will have to spray the roses. One of their beauties is that they are vigorous and that is why they are throwing off the effects of the fungus but in time black spot will effect their vigour. So it would be wise to spray them. Hope this helps.