There are more toxins being used to treat roses in the home garden than any other flowering plant. (Lawns get first place in the toxin hall of fame.)

What shall we do about these popular, problematic beauties? If you absolutely must have them, either learn to put up with their nasty diseases or try to control the damage with weekly sprayings of horticultural oil, botanical pesticides, and careful hygiene. First, however, choose disease-resistant varieties.

Simply because it is called an “Old Rose” does not mean it is easy to grow without chemicals. Look for a group of roses called Landscape Roses or Modern Shrub Roses such as Earth Song or Maybelle Stearns. There are many mail order sources for these roses including Wayside Gardens Complete Rose Catalog.